Hey Everyone! This is my first fic that I've posted. I know that first chapter might not be much, but it will get better, I promise. E-mail me with your opinions, flames, etc. Thanx y'all!

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, or any of the Escaflowne characters.

Chapter 1: Meanings Unclear

Hitomi was walking through a lush green field. The puffy white clouds floated lazily in the azure sky. A warm breeze tickled her face. The sun shone so brightly, and the Mystic Moon hung perfectly in the sky.

She walked slowly, gazing at her surroundings. Suddenly, she saw Van standing there, his back to her. He turned around and gave her a smile that made her weak in the knees.

"Van!" she cried.

He held out his arms. She ran to him. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion in that moment. He grasped her in his strong arms, holding her tightly.

"Hitomi. What a beautiful sight." Van held her at arm's length, studying her.

"Oh Van." Hitomi blushed, then cursed herself for blushing. I don't need to blush. I love Van and he loves me.

"Oh Hitomi." Van crushed her in his arms again.

"Van, you're hurting me." She laughed.

"Oh, sorry." Van said sheepishly, as he let her go.

"Wow. What a wonderful day. It's all so perfect." Hitomi said. Just the way it was meant to be. The way it will always be.

She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She remembered everything. She remembered being on Gaea, loving Van, leaving him. She remembered being on Earth, being miserable, feeling alone. Her mother's pleas rang in her ears. Go back to where you were. I know you will be happy there, happier than you could ever be here. She remember saying good-bye to her mother, Amano, Yukari. Then she left. She came back to Gaea, back to her true love, and back to her destiny. She remembered their wedding, such a joyous occasion. May the gods unite you into one soul and one mind. She remembered the birth of their child, a daughter, Celixa. Raising Celixa into a teenager. Being happy, happier than she ever had been. Images floated in her mind.

"Mother! Father!" Hitomi opened her eyes and turned around to see Celixa running towards them.

"Hello daughter." Van said.

"Hello Father. Hello Mother. What a nice day." Celixa said cheerfully.

"Absolutely beautiful." Hitomi agreed.

"What have you been doing out here?" Van asked,

Hitomi watched Van and Celixa converse. Celixa took most of her colouring from Van She took none from me at all.. Celixa's dark shoulder-length hair, the same colour as Van's, fluttered in the wind. Her reddish-brown eyes, also inherited from Van, glinted in the sunlight.

"Isn't life perfect." She mused to herself. She looked at her family. So beautiful. She had everything she ever wanted.

The three were silent now, gazing at the clouds. Suddenly, Hitomi heard a maniacal laugh.

"Ha Ha. I've finally found you Van! It's time to play!"

No. No, it can't be. He...he's gone. He's supposed to be gone. Celena took his place.

Then red guymelef, a guymelef Hitomi and Van knew all to well, bounded through the trees. Another maniacal laugh cut through the air.

"You! Stay away. Stay away from my family!" Van drew his sword, leaping in front of Hitomi and Celixa.

"Your family? Oh look. Isn't that the girl that was supposed to be Allen's lover? How did you get her? And who's this? Your daughter?" the insane voice rang throughout the field. A crima claw shot out and grabbed Celixa. Hitomi saw Celixa's eyes widen in confusion. The red guymelef went into flight mode and took off, leaving Hitomi and Van staring dumbly at it.

"No! Dilandau you coward! Get back here! This is between you and me! Release my daughter!" Van screamed vainly at the red guymelef, now just a speck in the sky.

"Celixa..." tears flooded Hitomi's eyes. The sky darkened. Celixa.

A low moan made Hitomi snap out of it. She looked to see Van drop his sword and scream. His face was ashen.

"Help me. Help me Hitomi. I..." Van trailed off and blood began to pour from his mouth.

"Van! What's wrong? Van!" Hitomi rushed to his side.

"Dilandau is getting back at me." His speech was broken. Hitomi heard blood gurgle in his throat.

"What? Van! No!" Hitomi yelled. No.

"Good-bye Hitomi. I love you." Van gasped before he collapsed to the ground.

"Van! VAN!"

Hitomi woke up in a cold sweat. The dream. It was so real. The images played in her mind. Dilandau. How silly. He couldn't be back. Celena is here, not him.

It was just a dream. Just a dream. Hitomi reached out for Van. He was there, sound asleep. Breathing evenly. She touched his bare back. He was warm.

"Hitomi? What's the matter?" Van's voice was thick with sleep.

"Oh, nothing. Go back to sleep. I'm just going to go check on Celixa." Hitomi said, getting out of their bed.

"Are you sure nothing is wrong?' Van looked at her. She smiled.

"I'm sure. Go back to sleep."

Hitomi put on a robe, opened the door, and crept out. Some of the guards looked at her quizzically as she went by. Finally she reached Celixa's room.

I know it's just a dream, but still. Hitomi remembered some of the visions she had had before, and a seed of doubt sprang into her mind. Don't be silly. I have visions when I'm awake. I haven't ever had prophetic dreams before. At least, none that I can remember now. It was just a dream.

Hitomi opened Celixa's door as quietly as she could. She glanced in, almost afraid that she would find Celixa gone. But, to Hitomi's relief, Celixa was there, sleeping soundly. She closed the door and crept back to her own room. She slid into bed next to Van and held onto him as she tried to fall back to sleep.

No more nasty dreams for me. That's all it was. A dream.

But that seedling of doubt started to grow. There was something that rang true about that dream. There was some kind of meaning. What was it?