Chapter 5: Red Light
~*Previously on Hitomi's Return*~
"Milliardo," Heero mumbled again, "or shall I say, Zechs?" Before Milliardo could respond, both him and Heero had seen something that made Heero choke. Only one word was now etched into Heero's mind...
*~*
"Jiueru." Hitomi repeated. Suddenly, clasping her hand to her forehead she fell to her knees, her eyes distant from Gaea. The vision she had seen before flashed in her mind. The blue guymelef flashed into her mind and her promise. She snapped back into reality once again and looked up. "Jiueru." She mumbled again. Why do I call it that? Why does that name keep running through my head? Hitomi stared in wonderment. Shrugging the thought off she stood and advanced towards the blue guymelef sitting peacefully before her.
"If I control Jiueru then that person who must not die won't get killed. That way everyone should be happy. I'll bet Fanelia won't be attacked a second time if I do. Ever since Van has started rebuilding it's been turning into one beautiful country." she glanced around, just in case the person who had left the guymelef might be near. "I will be saving someone's life." she then stared back up at Jiueru and knitted her eyebrows in wonderment. "Now, how can I get in? I've seen Van do it before but I'm not the one who put the energist in the guymelef." Hitomi stated to herself. She shrugged. "Oh well. Might as well try to get in like Van does.
Hitomi climbed the guymelef somewhat easily and slowly and unsurely put her hand in front of where the drag-energist was in place. She hesitated a bit, but shook her head after a moments time. No. I have to do this. This is for Van and Fanelia. Who knows what might happen if I don't do this. She pushed her hand slowly to the heart of the machine and gasped as it opened. Somehow this felt so right.
Hitomi climbed into the head and even though she had never been inside a guymelef before, she seemed to know what to do. The face closed at Hitomi's will.
I know I should do this. Besides, no one will care if I die, but what about Van? Will he care? Or will he just shrug it off and find someone else to love? Tears came to her eyes. I don't know. I don't think Van was just pretending. He said himself that we were meant for each other, but I have to do this. Somehow, in my vision, from the sound of Van's voice he seemed to care about the person that owned this guymelef more than me. I'd do anything to help Van. I hope he knows that. As if final decision made, she nodded and started to advance.
"Wow! This is a lot harder than it looks!" Hitomi stated, having some difficulties. She laughed lightly as she tried getting used to it, unaware of how strong she really was.
*~*
Heero searched for words. This was so strange to him. "R-Relena?" his faced softened as he looked at the mobile suit in front of him. He was so puzzled.
"This has gone far enough Heero Yuy. You know well enough that my brother is on our side now." Relena glared at Heero seriously.
Heero stared at Relena sternly. "Relena. Something isn't right here. Something is wrong with your brother."
Relena softened her face a little. She didn't mean to be so serious with him but she had had enough with the fighting business. "Heero, I'm glad you're concerned but no..." she was cut short from a hard hit on her right side. It was Zechs. Relena stared at him shocked. His eyes were cold and hard and there was something wrong with him. It was as if something had made him go mad.
"Relena!" Heero jumped out and hit Zechs with his saber, making Zechs sidestep a bit. Relena hadn't been experienced much with mobile suits and had some difficulties getting to her feet. She was a pacifist for Pete's sake. Not a mobile suit pilot. Relena stood up in anger and hurt. Something was terribly wrong.
Heero and Zechs were fighting an even battle. The battle would last till both fell to the ground dead or too exhausted to fight anymore. Zechs had a different plan. He lunged forward towards Escaflowne.
"Zechs!! Where are you going! We're not finished with this!!" Heero raged, flying after him, but apparently not fast enough. Zechs had a full advantage on Van. Van had sensed Zechs and therefore turned full-fledged around, ready for the strike. Before Zechs even neared Van an unknown guymelef appeared from the shadows and Zechs just smirked chaotically.
Hitomi raced in front of Zechs, in Jiueru, screaming, "Van!" Her vision then flashed before her eyes and she saw the vision being repeated right before her eyes. Hitomi fell in shock. Her head would be chopped off any moment. She started collapsing towards the ground with soft tears emerging from her eyes. "Van," she whispered softly as she waited for the collision. Nothing happened. Everything was black and Hitomi couldn't see anything. She heard a soft clicking noise and then the sound of Van's voice echoing throughout the darkness. "Van!! Van! Where are you?!" His voice grew louder as a soft light broke through the black veil, which held Hitomi. She saw a hand and didn't hesitate a moment as she grabbed it. Hitomi was pulled back into reality. She had been so scared that she nearly died from fright and thought. Luckily it seemed that as she fell, Zechs was so crazy and blind at things that he missed as her head barely ducked the hit. Van had then come to battle Zechs in an all out war for Hitomi's life. He held her (or at least her in Jiueru) and battled Zechs at the same time.
Hitomi leapt to her feet a little uneasily because of the weight and started helping out. Van clenched his teeth as he struggled, fighting Zechs. His machine was pretty advanced and had fire emerge from a stick that he held. Van smiled slightly as he saw Hitomi was alright and up on her feet. He wondered how she had gotten that guymelef, but knew that questions could come later.
Zechs retreated laughing crazily as he saw Heero and Duo run up to help. Heero helped Relena out of her suit quickly because it was of no use right now as it was damaged severely from the hit she took. Heero grabbed Relena's waist and pulled her up, carrying her.
Relena's eyes widened immediately as she noticed his action, "Heero..." He didn't look down at her but she saw a small blush on his face as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Zechs leapt into the air and flew off, seeing his chances were slim. "I'll be back...Van." Zechs hissed. Van, shocked, looked out at Zechs. How the heck... Van's thoughts were cut short by Hitomi.
"Are you alright Van?"
Van glanced over to Hitomi and smiled. "I am now that I know you're safe Hitomi." Van answered sweetly to Hitomi. Though Van couldn't see it, Hitomi blushed a baby pink shade.
Almost instantly Hitomi blanked and got pushed out of Jiueru forcefully falling heavily to the ground. Van was astonished. Why would she get out that way? Something is terribly wrong. Van leapt out of his guymelef and knelt down next to Hitomi. He shook her softly, whispering her name. No response. She just lay there like Snow White, waiting for her prince. Frozen. Van started yelling at Hitomi and shaking her more vigorously. Nothing. He lifted her up carefully, as if she was so fragile she might break, and put his arms around her cradling her. Rocking her back and forth as he whispered her name.
"Van?" Heero limped up behind him, followed by the weight leaning against him which was of course Relena. Van looked up but just as the pendant around his neck started to glow.
"What? What now? What's going on?" the pendant tugged urgently towards Hitomi. Van placed his hand to it, hoping to keep it down to his chest. It scorched him outside and inside. He pulled quickly away. Not daring to touch it for the worst feeling came to his hand, he and the two others near him watched it tug at his neck. "What does this mean?" without another warning the pendent pulled harshly and almost angrily at Van's neck until it broke off and left a gash across the right side of Van's neck. Van hadn't nearly gotten over his shock when he finally noticed that Hitomi was no longer in his lap. She was engulfed in a small pillar of light, growing and growing until it reached it's full potential and blinded Van. He backed away quickly seeing Hitomi more clearly. She probably hovered at least 15 feet above the ground.
"No! Hitomi no! Don't leave me again!" Van cried out in pain. "Hitomi!" he tore off his shirt and flew off towards Hitomi. "Hitomi!" but the pillar pushed him back. Van had tears in his eyes and couldn't hold them back. "No Hitomi!" then Van blinked for a first and saw that Hitomi had not moved from the spot she had been before. There was something strange about this pillar. It didn't seem the same. "Where's the pendant?" Van suddenly blurted out. He glanced around and saw the pendant lying next to the pillar. It was still glowing but had stopped moving. Frustrated at his attempts, Van bared his teeth and started yelling out Hitomi's name over and over until he just shut his eyes tight and concentrated on her.
*~*
"Van?" Hitomi cried out fearfully for her love was not near her anymore. "Van?!" a faint voice cried out her name and she spread her wings feeling the name being called out to her. The voice engulfed her with warmth whenever it was called to her but as soon as it stopped a sudden coldness swept over her and she felt her soul being ripped from her body. "Van!!" she cried weakly. "Van, help me!" The voice stopped and Hitomi could feel herself being ripped apart. This pain was so great she could not remember ever feeling it before. She cried out for several minutes and just as she was going to use her last bit of strength Van appeared. "Van." Hitomi cried out as loud as she could from the weakness and happiness she felt.
"Hitomi! I won't lose you again!! I...can't!" Van extended his hand and grabbed Hitomi's, but a sudden force pushed them back and Hitomi disappeared leaving Van going back to reality.
*~*
Van collapsed to the ground exhausted. He had almost got Hitomi back but something was pushing them apart. He glanced up at Hitomi and the blue pillar was now a crimson red. He looked around himself noticing he was alone. Heero and Relena had left and Allen was no were to be found. Goosebumps crept up his arms and legs making the hair stand on the back of his neck. He whirled around grabbing for a sword that obviously wasn't there.
Van almost toppled to the ground. What he saw was most shocking and unbelievable. He was face to face with...no...that couldn't be right...could it?
A/N: Hey all you peoples!!! I'm so sorry that this was shorter than intended but I've decided I won't write anymore until school is out May 31 so you can be expecting more by then. I'm sorry if I've just ruined the story or something in these past few chapters but I promise they'll get better as I will have more time to think. Ü I know it's probably confusing but it comes together as the story moves along okay? If you would like me to write more then encourage me more. Otherwise I'll probably start a humor Escaflowne story or something if this story doesn't turn out like I hope it will. I just need time. Thanx for taking the time to review!! I appreciate it.
