Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.....
Dedication: To all who love me and my stories and to all those I cherish dearly....


~*~Chapter 1~*~

*~*Unknown Immortals*~*

The breeze was warm and light. The only sounds floating through the air were those of chirping birds and two sets of footsteps that walked through the gardens; a light, small set apart, and a heavy, far set apart.

Four years had passed since the Goddess from the Mystic Moon had disappeared from Gaea and never returned. Fanelia was just on the verge of signing a treaty that would join the two most popular countries together as one.

Mothersburg was the name of the other country that Fanelia was going to join with to become more powerful. Van Slanzar de Fanel, King of all Fanelia, and the one of the many men who had fought along side the Goddess from the Mystic Moon during the Zaibach Wars walked through the gardens in the back of the courtyards of his castle.

Van's long-time childhood friend Merle, walked by his side as always, her head bowed deeply, and her hands clasped in front of her dark Maroon gown that clung to her slim figure nicely. Van glanced over at Merle and small smile came to his lips that were hidden behind a pitch black mustache.

A pitch black beard decorated his chin, the sides of his handsomely featured face and along his strong jaw and neck as well. Some of the servants still working around the castle since his father; Goau de Fanel was alive, always commented about how he was beginning to look exactly like him.

" Merle? What's bothering you? You haven't spoken a single word since I brought you out here with me... ", Van asked lightly as he stopped to look down at her.

Merle stopped and brought her face up to look at him. Her deep blue topaz eyes met his deep reddish-brown ones as she shook her head gently; her long, light pinkish-orange hair swaying to and fro with the gentle movement.

" I was just lost in my thoughts again, Lord Van... thoughts of the engagment to Cecil... ", she replied lightly, reaching up to tuck some of her loose hair behind her pointed ear.

Van chuckled lightly, " Good old Merle... you shouldn't really be THAT concerned about the engagment. Everything will work out fine for you two... ", he assured her.

" But Van... what about his position as your head guard? "

Van waved a hand through the air, " You have no need to worry yourself about that. He can return to his position when you two return from your time away alone with each other... "

Merle sighed heavily, " You will be there to walk me down the aisle, right? "

Van flashed her a soft, tender smile and nodded, " Of course! Merle... I've known you all my life, you're like a little sister to me, of course I'll be there to walk you down the aisle. "

Merle walked up to him and threw her arms around him, " Oh thank you, Lord Van!! ", she cried out in happiness as she stood up on tiptoe and licked his cheek a few times.

" Whoa! Merle... calm down... I'm only doing this because one, you're family, two, it's your big day, and three, because I'd be honoured to do it! Now... let's head back inside before it starts to pour on us. ", he told her as a low rumble sounded in the sky overhead, followed closely by small droplets of rain that began to fall onto them.

Merle nodded, " Yes, you're right! "

" S-sire!! ", a breathless guard cried as he ran into the gardens and came to a stop in front of them, bending over slightly to place his hands on his armor covered knees to try and catch his breath.

Van whirled around to face him, noticing the worry that slipped into the guards clear blue eyes, " What is it? ", he demanded.

The guard now stood up and saluted him, " Sire, Cecil and I were switching posts in the far end of the city and that's when we spotted the strange looking column of light that dropped down from the sky in the fields... "

Van quirked a dark brow that was hidden behind the pitch black hair that fell over his brow and part of his left eye, " What are you talking about? Explain it more properly, Thomas! "

' V-van!! ', a loud, shrill, desperate voice screamed in his head.

Van gasped as he saw an image of a young woman his age with long sandy brown hair splayed over her blood streaked face as she laid limply on the ground. His eyes went wide, his mouth opened slightly in surprise as he recognized who it was.

" H-hitomi!! ", he whispered loudly in disbelief, shaking his head. " No.. you can't be dead!! "

Merle knitted her light brows together and looked at Van, concern and worry entering her eyes, " Lord V-van?! What's wrong? What about Hitomi!? ", she begged as she reached out to clutch his hand that was covered in black leather gloves.

Van went still for a moment, trying not to think the impossible. He then wrentched his hand from Merle's and broke into a dead run towards the castle, his black, velvet cape flowing out behind him.

" Prepare my horse, Thomas! I'm going out there to investigate.... ", Van shouted over his shoulder.

Thomas suddenly shook his head, " Sire!! This... Lady Hitomi that you speak of... would she be the Goddess from the Mystic Moon? "

Van stopped and slowly turned to face him, " Y-yes... why do you ask? "

Thomas' soft features suddenly went serious, " I'm starting to believe that we have found her... "

Van blinked and cocked his head to the side, " H-here?! "

Thomas nodded, " Yes... after the light disappeared back up into the skies, it left us with some woman who appeared to be unconscious. I'm starting to think that it's her. "

Van paled slightly, " Prepare my horse... I'm going to get her! Why didn't you bring her back with you? You just left her out there?! "

Thomas frowned suddenly and shook his head, " No, Sire. We didn't leave her out there... it would be inappropriate to do so to the Goddes from the Mystic Moon... the one who saved us all during the Zaibach Wars.... "

Van blinked hard, " W-where is she? "

Thomas smiled gently and bowed slightly, " In the castle, my Lord... in the front hall by the front doors, Cecil has her... "

***

Van nearly jumped out of his pants at the news. He nodded briefly to Thomas before turning and then running from the gardens as fast as he could, ignoring Merle as she called out to him, telling him to slow down or else he'd fall and hurt himself.

He didn't care though if he did fall and hurt himself. As long as he got to Hitomi and made sure she was alright and not injured herself, that's all that mattered to him at the moment.

' Hitomi! I'm coming.... hang on. Please be alright! ", Van prayed silently as he ran through the hall that led to the front main hall by the front doors.

As soon as he rushed into the main hall, he stopped dead in his tracks as Cecil shifted the girl in his arms into a more comfortable position for him. He looked up at Van and his soft green eyes met Van's reddish-brown ones.

" Sire! There you are.... ", Cecil's deep voice greeted him lightly as he bowed slightly, but not far because of the girl in his arms.

Van blinked and stared at the girl, ' This isn't Hitomi... this doesn't even look like her! Who is it this time?! ', he thought in shock as he continued to stare at the girl.

" Sire? Are you... alright? "

Van blinked, " Huh? Oh... ", he shook his head to clear it. " Who is this? "

Cecil looked down at the girl in his arms and shrugged his broad shoulders lightly, " I'm not so sure, my Lord.... she just fell from the sky... "

Van nodded and walked over to them, " Yes... I heard from Thomas... ", he replied lightly as he reached out to run a hand through the long hair that wasn't the sandy brown that he once remembered it to be.

Van peered down into the soft featured face and cocked his head to the side, taking in the pale blonde hair that was streaked with light auburn, and caramel streaks, and the right cheek that beheld a long smear of dried blood.

" This isn't... Hitomi... ", Van whispered lightly.

Cecil watched his King and frowned, " Sire... might I suggest that we lay her down somewhere more comfortable then in my arms? They are getting tired, Sire, even though it feels like she doesn't weigh a thing! "

Van looked up at him and then slipped an arm under her knees that were draped over by the front part of a velvety long, flowing black gown, as was the rest of her body. The gown consisted of velvet, strapless, sleeveless, and very low-cut. The back went down in a large, and long V, ending just at the rise of her butt. The one thing that held the thin, frail material together were the clear, thick straps that crossed over each other on the back of the dress, in the V section.

Van then slipped an arm under her head and lifted her into his arms. He looked down at the girl in his arms and frowned before looking at Cecil, " I'll bring her to a room. Merle is out in the courtyard with Thomas I believe. I left them there so I could come here to see if the girl was the -- "

" The Goddess from the Mystic Moon... I know, Sire. I know.. ", Cecil cut him off gently as he flashed him a smile and brushed past him to go greet his fiancée, who was walking towards from the hall that Van had bolted through.

Van sighed heavily and then looked down as the girl in his arms shifted and leaned more into his body, as if trying to get some warmth into her body, ' Well.. we might as well go and get you to a room, M'Lady... ', he thought as he began to walk towards the flight of stairs that would lead them to the second floor that held the guestrooms.

***

" Hmmm... so she has arrived just as the wise man had prophecized? "

" Yessss.... sssshe hasssss.... "

" Good! Now... let's see what this little blood-sucker can do that Thaddeus never could... "

" Yessss.... what Thaddeussss could not... "

***

Van quietly opened the door and walked into the room, the girl still in his arms, weighing nothing, almost like a feather. He gently placed her down on the bed and her head rolled to the side, revealing two, small, very punctuated holes in the side of her neck that still had dried, crusted blood decorating around them.

Van bent down lower and peered at them, " I... I've seen those kind of injuries before... ", he muttered loudly.

The girl beneath him moaned loudly and then sucked in a sharp breath as she stretched on the bed underneath him. Van jerked back and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the girl slowly open her eyes and look around the room uncertainly before setting her gaze on his face.

Van blinked and looked down into the same Sea-green eyes, the only thing that surprised him intensely was that he saw Topaz blue identical to Merle's eyecolour outlining her pupil, and deep gold speckling the soft green.

" Are you... alright? ", Van asked, surprised by the slightly frightened tone in his voice as he watched the girl slowly sit up and scratch her head.

" W-where am I? Is this... Fanelia? ", the girl murmured lightly as she looked around again at her surroundings.

Van blinked hard and his arms dropped from his chest to his hang at his sides, " H-hitomi? Is that... you? "

Hitomi blinked and looked at him. Nodding, she slowly slid her long legs over the side of the bed, brushing past Van as she stood up, " Yes... why wouldn't it be me, Van? ", she asked him, her face only inches away from his own.

Van swallowed and took a small step back, staring deep into her eyes, " I.. you just look... er, different, Hitomi. VERY different.... "

Hitomi frowned and then looked down at the dress she wore and blinked her eyes as she reached down to lift the skirt up and examine it closely, " Well... this is... rather odd! I.. don't remember wearing this before I.. "

The skirt fell from her fingers as she blinked and gasped quietly. Sitting back on the edge of the bed, she brought a trembling hand to her forehead and closed her eyes. Van knitted his brows together and kneeled down in front of her. He reached out slowly and placed a gentle hand on her knee that trembling slightly under his touch.

" H-hitomi? Are you alright? Would you like me to go get Puck? "

Hitomi slowly shook her head and then opened her eyes to stare at Van, " I... I'll be fine, V-van... I just feel a little... f-faint... ", she whispered lightly as she closed her eyes again.

" Hitomi? I... I'm really.... glad that you came back... ", Van whispered to her lightly as he brought his hand up to gently run it through the long, silky strands.

Hitomi groaned lightly, " Y-yeah.... I'm happy to be back. W-where is everyone? ", she asked quietly as she ran her hand over her face.

Van tilted his head to the side and then brought his hand up higher to cup the side of her face, " Everyone's where they were meant to be. Allen's in Asturia with his sister, Celena and also with Millerna. Merle's here... with Cecil, and Dryden's out on some business trip for Fanelia.... ", he replied as he gently stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

Hitomi smiled lightly and closed her eyes as she leaned into his hand, bringing her hands up to hold his hand, " I'm happy that everyone's alright. What about you? "

Van watched her, marvelling at how beautiful she had become over the past four years, marvelling at how she filled out nicely in all the right places that he wouldn't mind exploring, " What about me? ", he echoed her words, staring at the top of her breasts that were completely visible before bringing his eyes up to meet hers.

Hitomi nodded, " Yes... I mean... how are you doing? Holding out? "

Van crinkled his nose, " I'm alright. I was a little sad about Merle leaving to live her own life though.... "

Hitomi quirked an eyebrow, " What do you mean? "

" She's getting married to my head guard.... "

Both of Hitomi's eyebrow's shot up in surprise, " S-she is?! Wow.... I'm so happy for her! I'd have to go and congratulate her after.. "

Van chuckled and nodded as he continued to stroke her cheek, " Yes... she'd like that very much, Hitomi. "

Hitomi nodded and looked down at the ground, but her eyes ended up making their way to stray on Van's toned chest that caused the black t-shirt-like shirt to stretch, revealing the ripples that his muscles made whenever he moved. Van watched her. There was something about her now that seemed... dark....

Van watched as she suddenly went paler then she already was and he ran his tongue over his lips, " Hitomi? Are you sure you're alright? You look really pale. Perhaps you should lay down.... ", he suggested.

Hitomi blinked and quickly looked up at him, noticing the worry and fear in his eyes. She shook her head, " No, Van... I said I was fine. I don't need to lay down... all I need to do is go for a walk. Would you like to come? ", she asked lightly as she held onto his hand and slowly stood up.

Van snorted playfully and laced his fingers with hers, " What choice do I have? "

Hitomi giggled lightly and nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. Van winced and rubbed at them, " Whoa... since when did you ever become so... agressive? ", he joked.

Hitomi frowned lightly and shrugged, " I'm sorry, Van. I didn't mean to elbow you THAT hard... lighten up, you big baby! "

Van's dark brows went up in surprise and he glanced over at her from the corner of his eye, " Baby? Me?! I don't think so, Hitomi.... nuh uh.... "

Hitomi placed her bottom lip inbetween her teeth and nibbled lightly as they both made their way down the flight of stairs, hand in hand, " You are too a baby, Van Fanel! I've always known you to be a baby... ever since I met you... "

Van rolled his eyes, " I don't have to listen to this you know... "

Hitomi squeezed his hand, " I'm only joking, Van... lighten up... ", she whispered as she walked closer to him, her arm brushing up against his everynow and then as they began to make their way through the hall that led towards the gardens.

Servants who were cleaning the halls or dusting things off stopped doing what they were doing and watched the two walk by hand in hand, as if suddenly shocked to see their King with another woman, who wasn't the Goddess from the Mystic Moon.

Hitomi glanced at the servants as she passed them and some bowed to their King who nodded to them in return. She sighed heavily and the front of her foot caught on the carpet as she walked. Hitomi stumbled, and pitched forward. Van quickly stood in front of her, encircling his arms around her slim waist, holding her up.

Hitomi blinked and swallowed thickly, ' Why do I feel so... so strange? I feel so tired.... maybe Van was right, maybe I should lay down... '

" Hitomi? what's wrong? ", Van's deep, strong, sure voice snapped her back into reality and she weakly lifted he head to look at him.

" I-I'm alright, Van. Don't worry about me.... I can manage.... ", she replied lightly as she slowly began to stand up straighter.

Van watched her, but didn't realize his arms from her waist, he only pulled her closer. Hitomi pressed her hands to his chest and felt the muscles ripple underneath her touch. She swallowed and looked up at him, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks, causing her to look away quickly as soon as Van began to inch his face closer to hers.

Van frowned lightly and placed two fingers under her chin, turning her head back around and then tilting it up so he could look down into her troubled eyes. Hitomi quickly licked her lips and then swallowed as she felt his warm breath fan her lips gently.

Suddenly a strangled cry escaped her lips and pushed him away from her, " No! V-van... don't! ", she cried as she placed a hand to her face, her fingers spread and she looked at his confused and hurt expression through the cracks.

Van blinked as he regained his balance. Everyone around them went still and silent, some completely in shock at what they had just witnessed.

" H-hitomi?! What's gottn into you? ", Van nearly shouted.

Hitomi closed her eyes and shook her head, " I.. I don't know, Van. I'm s-so sorry.... ", she whispered as she ran forwards and brushed past him to run down the rest of the hall and disappear around a corner. A slamming door followed.

Van exhaled deeply and then frowned as he ran a hand through his hair, " What's gotten into her? ", he wondered outloud.

A loud agonised wail rang throughout the halls, echoing off the walls. Van blinked hard and then bolted forward towards where Hitomi had disappeared.

" Hitomi! I'm coming, hang on!! ", he shouted as he turned the corner, shoved the door to the gardens open, only to stop dead in his tracks at what was laid on the ground before him.

***

" Ssssssssshe will die quickly, lesssssst we teach her how it worksssssss.... "

" You're right. We must act quickly before anyword of her gets out to the rest of this pathetic world that I plan on destroying... "

" Massssssster.... what sssshall we do about her? Sssssshall we kill her? Ssssshall we take her life? "

" She has no life within that body of hers! Nothing but immortal blood that keeps her functioning... "

" Then what will we do? "

" We will teach her the values and importances of being a Martianin Vampire**...... "

***

" By the Gods, Hitomi! What happened? Why did you scream like that? ", Van demanded as Hitomi slowly hobbled over to him, clutching her right wrist to her chest, a grimace on her soft featured face.

Hitomi winced lightly as she walked up to Van and then past him to lean back against the brick wall and then slid to the ground, her wrist still clutched dearly to her chest. Van knelt down in front of her and reached out to touch her wrist. Hitomi's whole body jerked once before suddenly going through a bunch of spasms.

" Please, Hitomi... tell me what's wrong! I can't help you if you won't tell me what's the matter! ", Van gently scolded her as he again reached out for her wrist.

Hitomi closed her eyes and sucked in a sharp breath as Van gently, but firmly snatched her wrist from her chest and hand. He looked down at it and then flipped it over to examine the back of it. That's when he noticed the strange looking marking.

" Hitomi? Is this... normal? "

Hitomi opened her eyes and looked down at what Van was slightly confused by. She immediately snatched her wrist back and stood up feebly, using the wall for support as she began to walk towards the door. Van stood up quickly and followed her.

" Hitomi! Why aren't you saying anything? Do you know how it happened? Do you know what's wrong with you? ", Van demanded as he caught up to her.

Hitomi began to breath deeply and heavily as her entire body began to feel like it was catching on fire. She whirled around and glared at Van, her once sea-green eyes, speckled with deep gold, and outlined in topaz flared to life as dark green that hinted silver specks within their depths.

" Do I know what's wrong with ME? I don't know, Van... why don't you tell me! ", she spat in his face.

Van blinked and then flinched from the sudden hardness in her voice, " H-hitomi... I.. I didn't mean anything wrong by it. It's just that you seem a little.... "

" A little what?! "

Van sighed heavily and reached out to place a hand on her shoulder, but as soon as he touched her, he snatched his hand back immediately as if he had been burned. He looked at her, his eyes slightly wide in surprise, his face slightly pale.

" Hitomi... you're burning up. I'm going to get you inside now, and into a bed. You need rest... ", Van told her as he reached out to grab her arm.

Hitomi shook her head hard. She looked at him and was about to say something harsh, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Her hard eyes softened and her harsh expression disolved into one of confusion and hurt.

" V-van? What are you doing out here? What are we doing out here? In the rain too! ", Hitomi mumbled lightly as if she were confused.

Van reached out and placed his hand back on her shoulder, " Come on... let's get you inside. You're burning up on the inside and now you're trembling... ", he gently said to her.

Hitomi nodded her head absentmindedly and then wrapped her arms around her stomach as she began to tremble even more then she did before, her eyes carrying a far away look within their depths now as she took a step towrads him and ended up tripping on a rock and falling into his body.

Van quickly reached out and caught her as she began to slide down the length of his body and scooped her up into his arms. He could still feel her trembling and it was starting to bother him as he watched her grow paler with each passing minute. He began to make his way through the door and then down the hall when suddenly he felt the trembling woman in his arms go completely still...



(A/N**: I'll be back by next weekend with Chapter 2... *waves* JA NE!!!!! Whatcha think of this one? )


** Martinian Vampires are Vampires that can walk, stand, run, do basically anything they wanted in FULL sunlight. They don't need as much blood as normal vampires do, but they do need to feed once and a while. Unlike Ricean Vampires, Martinian Vampires can do everything that a human can....