Chapter 2: Unexpected Meetings
~*Fanelia*~
Van was at the most boring meeting he had ever been to and seriously thought he would die right then and there. Van just glanced out the window absent mindedly when a column of blue light caught his eye. Could it be? Is it...? Hitomi? He thought to himself. Van quickly stood up, knocking over his chair making everyone stop and stare at him as he ran out of the room without a word. A smile reached his ears as he whispered her name. Hitomi. Pulling off his robes and favorite red shirt, leaving just some black pants and leather boots on, his wings unfurled from his back as he started to lift himself off the ground. As he looked towards the field where Hitomi, or supposedly Hitomi, landed he stopped seeing some figures. Van saw two strange looking guymelefs land near where Hitomi had landed. He had never seen such guymelefs before and whether they were guymelefs or not, he needed Escaflowne.
Van spun around, changing his destination towards Escaflowne. As he reached the sleeping guymelef Van folded his wings and awakened the dragon once again. "It's been a long time Hitomi." Van muttered to himself, "I hope it's you." Transforming into a dragon, Van raced to the unknown guymelefs and Hitomi.
Heero stared unbelievingly at the flying form. It looked like some sort of dragon, but it was too far away to make sure. Heero was brought back from his gaping once Duo had called out his name.
Duo didn't pay any attention to the flying form that was out over a city. "Lets go see what that blue light had with it." Duo hollered from inside the cockpit. Ignoring Duo, Heero jumped out of Wing Zero suddenly. Duo just rolled his eyes and followed by jumping out of his also.
Hitomi stood up, duffel bag slung over her shoulder. Brushing herself off she smiled as saw where she was. "Gaea." Hitomi breathed, not noticing the men behind her.
Heero found a girl just standing in the field with a bag slung over her shoulder. She had very short, sandy blonde hair that seemed to be looking off in the distance. He heard her suddenly mumble something. "What? What did you say girl?" Hitomi spun around and noticed a boy about her age and height with semi-dark brown hair all short and scraggly. Almost like Van's. She thought happily. He was accompanied by another boy about her age and height also had dark brown hair plus a long braid running down his back. Just like Allen's. They both remind me of...them. They both had different looking clothes. The one with short hair (that reminded her of Van) had a loose green tank top and tight black shorts and some sneakers. The one with the long pony tail (that reminded her of Allen) had a black buttoned up shirt that was rolled at the cuffs with funny black pants and black shoes. They were like......Earth's clothes. Behind them stood strange looking guymelefs. Hitomi gasped as she saw them.
"What do you call your guymelefs?" Hitomi asked, hoping that they were on her side and wouldn't just straight out attack her. She didn't receive an answer because right at that moment a familiar presence surrounded her. Hitomi turned on herself around and saw...Van.
"Van!" she cried out happily as she raced towards her love. Van let Escalfowne hang from the sky as he jumped off, letting his wings burst from his back happily. Van forgot all about the other two's presence because all he saw was Hitomi.
"Hitomi!!" Van landed softly on the grass and embraced Hitomi so suddenly that he surprised her, making her step back slightly. Hitomi wasn't used to him being so...open before.
"Van..."
"Hitomi. I missed you so much. I...I..." Van pulled back a little, noticing the other two looking away with a slight flush on their cheeks. He looked at them with a puzzled look on his face. Van noticed, as he held Hitomi, that she had rips on the back of her shirt. "Hitomi, did they hurt you?" Van pulled away, reaching for his sword. Hitomi just shook her head, putting her hands on his so he wouldn't draw his sword.
"Hitomi..."
Duo walked forward, though still dumbfounded from Van's entrance. "Um, I don't mean to be rude or anything but what is this place and...are you an angel? I mean...are we dead or something?" This all seemed so confusing to Duo that he can just pilot Deathsythe following some light and then all of a sudden die without him noticing it. And if he wasn't dead he didn't know how he ended up on such a weird plant that he never was able to see from space before.
"Angel? I guess you could call me that. This is Gaea. How did you get here?" Van questioned them both suddenly while removing his hands from his sword.
"Van. Can we talk about things later?" Hitomi asked in worry. She needed to show him something and it just couldn't wait.
Van understood. "Alright Hitomi. You can get into your...guymelefs I suppose. As long as you promise not to attack."
"Guyma what?" Duo stammered. He saw Van glance up towards their gundams. "Oh. You mean our gundams?" Van looked at Duo in a confused matter.
"Duo. I'm sure they'll explain things to us once we're...well...wherever we're going I guess. So shut your mouth and get into Deathsythe." Heero jumped into Wing Zero. Duo shrugged and leapt into his as well with all sorts of questions tugging at his brain.
As soon as Duo and Heero started to their gundams Van reached his hand out to Hitomi, blushing slightly as he did so. Hitomi understood and took it thinking that she could wait to explain what she needed to later. Van pulled Hitmi clase and hugged her to him, smiling down at her and spreading his wings once again, flew up with Hitomi to where Escaflowne hovered.
Van put Hitomi in front of himself and rested her comfortably against his bare chest.
"Comfortable?" Van asked while blushing madly. Hitomi also let out a little blush as one arm wrapped around Van and the other held her duffel bag.
"Yes." she whispered.
As they flew off back to Fanelia Hitomi asked, "Van?"
"Yes Hitomi?" Van questioned back.
Hitomi hugged herself to Van's chest and said only so Van could hear, "I love you." She looked up and noticed a question in Van's eyes. She knew what he would ask so she said quickly, "That's why I cam back. Because I love you. No one gave me as much happiness as you."
Van's eyes widened then softened as he let a small smile form on his lips. "I...I missed you Hitomi." he said stroking her hair softly. No, no, no! It's 'I love you Hitomi' not 'I missed you Hitomi'. You already told her that. Hitomi frowned. She was a little hurt by the words and pulled away a little. Maybe he found someone else? She thought sadly. Maybe he has missed me but not for the same reason I missed him. A small tear threatened to fall down her cheek but she managed to hold it back. Maybe it's not the right time to ask.
They finally reached Fanelia. [They all introduced themselves. Blah blah blah. I just thought you'd like to get on with the story cuz the introductions and stuff is real boring and I didn't want to write it. ^_^ *smiles evilly*] Van called for a party (or ball) in Hitomi's honor and even sent an invitation to Allen and others in Austuria. Heero and Duo didn't feel like joining the party that night but kept some matters to themselves and just had a lot of thoughts and such on their minds. (They didn't feel in the mood for a party so they both left to their rooms.)
Van went to get Hitomi from her room. He had a few thoughts and questions on his mind. "Hitomi?" Van knocked softly.
Van heard Hitomi's faint voice from inside the room call, "Just a minute." The door swung open. Hitomi hadn't changed into her ball dress yet. She still had her track meet outfit on and looked flustered about something. Obviously Merle was trying to help Hitomi in picking out a dress.
"Hitomi? May I talk to you in my room for a moment?" Van asked.
"You're room?" Hitomi asked. Van blushed.
"Yes. If that's alright with you that is."
"Okay. We'll settle this when I get back Merle!" Hitomi winked and shut the door behind herself. When they reached Van's room Van let Hitomi enter first. They both entered silently with a little intake of breath from Hitomi. Van clicked the door softly behind him.
"There is something I'd like to tell and ask you." Van said seriously.
"Question first." Hitomi smiled.
"Well, I was going to ask you the question first anyways." Van smirked. His face soon held a little hurt and worry when he asked, "Um, who ripped your shirt?" Van blushed a little. He had a lot of questions. Was she hurt? Did she really love him? Was someone hurting her back on the Mystic Moon? Hitomi pulled him from his thoughts as she smiled at him and moved closer. Van put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer. Hitomi blushed at how open he was to her. He had never been that open the last time they met. "Well?" he asked smiling.
"No one did."
"What do you mean?" Van asked in puzzlement, cocking his head to the side.
Hitomi burst out crying and buried her face in his chest. Van hugged her to him. "Hitomi. I won't be mad. You can tell me anything. I just...don't want you hurt is all. I'm just a little concerned." he said, sure of himself.
"Oh Van. I grew wings! Do you hate me?" Van was taken aback by this.
"What?"
"I grew wings Van!" Hitomi cried, making Van's clothes wet. He suddenly felt something soft on Hitomi's back. Sort of like feathers. Then her wings burst beautifully and gracefully from her back. Van was shocked. Tears suddenly overcame Van's eyes.
"Hitomi...I'm not mad." Van crushed her to his chest as he lifted Hitomi's face to his. He dried a tear from her face. A smile filled his face with affection and love. "We were meant for each other. I have found my soulmate."
A small smile formed on Hitomi's lips. "What is it you wanted to tell me Van?"
Van smiled. "I love you Hitomi." There was no hesitance in his voice. Van tightened his grip on Hitomi's waist and pulled her near. Their lips were inches apart when Van whispered, "I never want to lose or let you go again. Hitomi." Their lips touched in an affectionate kiss. Van's first kiss. Van's wings sprung from his back, but he never pulled away from Hitomi. Hitomi was his. His forever. His angel. Van suddenly pulled away just far enough to see into Hitomi's lovely sea-green eyes. She smiled up at him with that assuring smile.
"I'll never leave you again Van." Hitomi promised. Hitomi leaned in and kissed Van on the lips a second time. Just a short kiss. A loving kiss.
"Will you accompany me at the ball tonight? Be my date I mean," Van bowed. "and may I accompany you to your bed chambers?" Van held out his hand. Hitomi took it and giggled.
"Yes and..." Hitomi stopped to see if Van's face would change. It did. He lifted an eyebrow curiously. She liked it when he did that.
"And...?"
"yes." Hitomi smiled sweetly up at him. Van smiled back and swept her off her feet.
"As in...yes to both my questions?" Van mused.
"Yes." Hitomi giggled.
"Hitomi, about your wings. I think they're beautiful." Van smiled remembering when Hitomi had made that same statement. "You're beautiful." Hitomi blushed a little and let her wings disappear, as did Van. Van carried Hitomi to her room.
"I can walk you know, Lord Van." Hitomi teased.
Van looked down and smiled, "I know." When they had reached her room Van put Hitomi down and put her hand in his. Hitomi smiled affectionately at Van. She opened the door to an impatient looking Merle.
"Hitomi! Merle scolded, but in a teasing way seeing Lord Van holding her hand. Merle smiled. "Since you won't choose your dress I guess we're gonna hafta have Van choose." Merle said casually waving a hand in the air hoplessly but happily with a smile forming on her furry face.
Van turned beet red. "Merle!"
"Oh come on Lord Van! Don't be a bum!" Merle grabbed Van and pushed him towards the closet. "Now, choose the one you think would look best on Hitomi. It shouldn't be that hard you know."
Van couldn't say a word. He looked back at Hitomi and saw an amused look on her face. He new that if he said anything he just might as well walk himself out of the room without picking a dress. Van knew that they were thinking he just wouldn't do this for anyone, but Hitomi was worth picking a dress for her. He let an awkward smile cross his face as he picked a beautiful silky blue dress that matched Hitomi's sneakers perfectly. Since she wore those sneakers he thought she might like that color, and he like the design of the dress also. Hitomi blushed as he picked it and walked out the door casually saying so only Hitomi could hear, "See you at the ball, Lady Hitomi."
Hitomi caught herself gaping. Her mouth was wide open in shock the whole time. Merle laughed at Hitomi for doing so since Van must have seen her. She hadn't expected Van to actually choose a dress! Hitomi and Merle both thought he'd just say he didn't have time for foolishness and just walk right out of the room.
He has changed. Hitomi thought. And I like it. Hitomi held up the dress Van had chosen. It was beautiful. A dress that she hadn't gotten to but liked. She usually didn't like dresses but this one just caught her eye. Maybe it was just because Van had chosen it. It had a dip in the back, just enough of a dip so...so wings could come through! Hitomi imagined her and Van. Both flying into the night. Merle snapped her out of her daydreaming.
"C'mon Hitomi! What are you waiting for? You're birthday? Now get it on stupid! It's not a handkerchief ya know!" Merle scolded and teased at the same time. Hitomi just smiled at Merle and hurried to get the dress on.
~*Austuria*~
Allen wandered around the courtyard thinking about Hitomi. He sighed sadly as he thought of her and Van. Why am I sad? I should be happy for them. I guess. Maybe it's because I'm mad Van actually let her go. Another sigh followed his thoughts. His ears suddenly picked up a noise. Horse hooves. A Fanelian was riding towards him.
"Message for Allen Schezar!" the messenger yelled.
"Thank you." Allen snatched the letter from the messenger. The messenger hurried off to deliver another letter. He quickly read the letter and with a huge smile upon his face he went to tell the King and Queen. "Hitomi..." Allen whispered happily.
When Allen had reached Millerna and Dryden they had already gotten a letter. Allen quickly called for the Crusade to be ready for departure.
"Where are we headed?" asked Gaddes.
"Fanelia." Allen said simply.
A/N: I know, it's kinda cruddy but that's okay cuz this is my first fan fic. I usually don't write stories but in this case, I did. *smiles* hee hee. I guess I'm not the cliff-hanger type person on this one. I know my stories not that good but please r/r. ^_^ Oh ya, and visit my webpage. Anime Q and send me your fan fic. (Since I'm not all that good anyways) Ü
