Hitomi was watching the sunrise. It had been one week since they arrived in Fried. One week since the war council formed, one week since she was pregnant. Hitomi looked up into the reddish sun. It was early morning, the time when she felt most refreshed. She put her hand on her stomach. The sick feeling stopped. She was feeling normal again. Hitomi couldn't believe it was only 2 weeks since she came back to Gaea. So much had happened. A marriage, a new war, a baby. It was all going too fast. She would have never pictured it two weeks ago. Hitomi sighed and looked up into the purple sky. Night was giving in to day. It was this moment of limbo that Hitomi loved most about Gaea. She felt like she could achieve anything. It was never like this on Earth. Mornings were always so routine. Here on Gaea, they were magical.
"I wish we could end this war, once and forever." Hitomi whispered to the wind.
This morning, Hitomi felt a strange feeling guarding her. It was caution, and excitement. She let her mind touch the skies, and soar free.
"What are you doing up?" she heard Van ask her from behind.
"Oh nothing. I was just admiring the sunrise," Hitomi said turning towards Van.
"Hmm, you're up very early these days," he observed and gave her a small kiss.
"I just feel I can't sleep. I have to get up with the sunrise. I don't know why, but I feel bad all day if I don't watch it." She told him.
"Well, just as long as you're not tired. You mustn't strain yourself during this period." Van said and hugged her protectively.
"Will you stop worrying? It's not that much of a big deal. It's not even been a month." Hitomi laughed. She never saw him so worried. Van was awfully cute when he was worried. Especially about her.
"Well, I just can't help it. I don't want you or the baby to get hurt." he said.
"Listen. I know up to where to push my limits. I won't take any risks. Especially now." Hitomi told him.
"Good, or else I'll have to lock you in the dungeon." Van teased and kissed her.
"Isn't this so magical? You wouldn't even guess that we're in the middle of a war. So peaceful." Hitomi whispered.
"I can see why you love the sunrise. It is truly magical." Van told her.
Hitomi closed her eyes. She let her conscience float above into the skies.
"Come on, Van, lighten up, " she gave him a mental nudge.
"Hitomi? Is that you?" Van mentally asked.
"Yeah, amazing, we still have that link. Come on, let all your worries vanish. Come fly with me." she told him.
"Hitomi, we don't have time for this." Van insisted.
"Shh.. this is our moment. Our moment in limbo. Just pretend that nothing is wrong. Come fly with me Van," Hitomi said, and let her conscience fly into the skies.
Van took her advice. He let go of all his worries, and let his conscience soar along Hitomi's.
They were like two sparks. Hers was golden, his was fiery. They chased each other through the puffy clouds. It was a sweet adrenaline rush. Van could feel Hitomi's life force. It was so strong and determined. She was so full of love, that Van let his love flow out to her. When they finally stopped soaring through the skies, he mentally felt Hitomi turn towards him. Van hugged her, and their sparks became one. Spiralling through the skies, his fiery nature enveloped her golden one. Words could not describe what was going on. They were one being. All masks thrown aside, the soul naked. No lies, the truth as it was. There were no secrets between them. Their memories were one, their love was one. It was a hot flame, burning in each of them. Here, in their universe, time seemed to melt, to just disappear. Love was the only thing that existed. No worries, and no pain. All of those were locked away, the key lost.
Hitomi opened her eyes. White feathers were floating in the sky. Van, with his wings widely opened was hugging her. She thought back to the intense moment they shared. It was wonderful. Hitomi kissed Van, and he opened his eyes.
"What just happened?" he asked, surprised by his wings.
"I don't know, but it was, it was...." Hitomi was at a loss for words. All she could do was stare in Van's chocolate eyes. They were sparkling.
Van didn't say anything. He just kissed Hitomi, a long and passionate kiss. He silently cursed the war. All he wanted was to be with her. With his sweet, loveable Hitomi.
"Let's go down to breakfast," Hitomi said after a while.
"Sure, I guess you're eating for two right now," Van smiled.
"I'm not going to become some fat cow. I just happen to be hungry." she told him.
"And even if you will. You'll be my fat cow!" Van said lovingly.
"Well I won't become one." she stated.
Van and Hitomi went down to breakfast. There, the whole gang was eating a quiet breakfast.
"I see we're the last people to get up," Hitomi smiled as she sat down at the table.
"We were wondering when you were going to come down to breakfast." Merle told her with her mouthful.
"Van, we've got reports from our spies. Zaibach is going to attack Lowenia in a few hours." Allen told him.
"What? And you've waited this long to tell me? We must be there to protect it!" Van jumped up.
"Not so fast. I made preparations. The Crusade leaves after breakfast." Allen informed.
"What about reinforcements?" Van asked.
"Already there." Allen told him.
"Well, then I guess all it's missing is us," Hitomi said.
"What are we waiting for?" Merle asked. "Let's go!" she jumped from the table.
"Princess Astrid, can you sense something?" Hitomi said turning to the princess.
"Yes," she answered. "They are preparing for an attack. It's going to be a quick and very fiery attack. They plan on burning the whole capital, and heading for the energist mines." She told them.
"Well, then we shall have to protect the energist mines," Van said getting up.
Hitomi got up herself, and followed Van.
"Maybe it's best that you stay here," he suggested quietly.
"No Van, that vision said that we're strongest when together. Remember?" Hitomi pointed out.
"Yeah, come on. But you're not going out into the field. You're staying on the Crusade." Van told her.
"Ok, very well. I can still warn you if I get a premonition."
"Come on. Our timing is essential," Allen told them.
Everybody, except Millerna Dryden and Prince Chid got on the ship. Hitomi waved good bye to them, and said a silent prayer for the supposed battle.
The Crusade took off, and set its course towards Lowenia."
~~~~
"Hey Merle, there you are," Gaddes said coming up behind the cat-woman.
"Gaddes, what do you want?" Merle asked him.
"Well, nothing in particular. Just to talk, and pass the time until we get to Lowenia." he answered.
"Oh, I see, Lord Van, and Allen are ignoring you, and you all of a sudden you decided to be nice to me." Merle said sarcastically.
"No, that's not it Merle. You can be so difficult to understand sometimes," Gaddes told her, and walked away. "This was all a big mistake," he muttered.
"Hey, where are you going? I thought you wanted to talk!" Merle called after him.
"Well, I thought you weren't in the mood." he said and turned around.
"I didn't say that. Come on, what's bothering you?" she asked.
"Well, this whole war. The seer came back from the Phantom Moon, and the war started a week after. It just strikes me as more than coincidence." Gaddes said sitting down.
"It's nothing but coincidence. Zaibach wanted to get back at Gaea for a long time. That was just the time it decided to do it. Hitomi has nothing to do with it. It's all just bad timing." Merle told him.
"How come you're always taking her side? I thought you didn't like her." Gaddes asked.
"She's my friend. And I do like her. It was just when she came to Gaea eight years ago that I was jealous of her, and was mean to Hitomi. Aside from Lord Van, she's the bestest friend I ever had. She taught me to believe in myself, and not to think of my being as inferior." Merle explained.
"I see she got you too." Gaddes mumbled.
"What do you mean 'got me'?" Merle asked confused.
"Well, everyone says that she's so great and all, and that she's a hero. I just don't see it. I can see that there's something special about her, but nothing out of the ordinary."
"Don't worry. Something will happen by the end of this war. Something that will make you understand why and how she stole the hearts of everyone on Gaea." Merle told him.
"I don't think so. Whenever I look at her, she seems to be off daydreaming or something. I just don't see why Lord Van refused to marry Princess Astrid." Gaddes confessed.
"He refused to marry her, because she wasn't the right person for him. He loved Hitomi for so many years. Astrid was just too proud and full of herself until Hitomi got here. Now I think she's acting a little more human, but not too much. She's still very proud." Merle observed.
"Yeah, but she's still of more royal rank than Hitomi." Gaddes stuck to his point.
"Ooh, you make me so mad!" Merle said infuriated. "Astrid and Hitomi can't compare. I don't think you'd see Astrid making a jump eight meters long over a pit two meters deep to save Van."
"Like Hitomi did that!" Gaddes scoffed.
"She did. I saw it with my own eyes. All for Van, a stranger she met, that plunged her into a war for a world that wasn't hers." Merle said.
"I see. Well, you've turned totally defensive. I guess your jealousy is gone now." Gaddes observed.
"Yeah, I guess it is," Merle said thoughtfully. "I only think of Lord Van as a brother. I am intent on making my own future. One I control one I can live in. It's like Hitomi says, if I keep thinking I wish I were, or I want to, it will happen." Merle said dreamily.
"Hello? What have you done to old impulsive Merle?" Gaddes said shaking her.
"Nothing. It's just that she's grown up a little, and stop shaking me! You're hurting me!" Merle yelled forcing herself out of Gaddes' grip.
"Now there's the old you!" He said laughing at her sour face.
"If this was all for your sick pleasure, I want you to know it wasn't funny!" Merle said and left.
"Merle, come back. It was a joke. Come on Merle, stop acting mad at me." Gaddes called out to her.
"Who's acting?" Merle said and continued walking. She wasn't really mad at Gaddes, but she liked it when she teased him. Before she went to the other room, Merle turned around and made a face at him. Gaddes laughed.
~~~~
Hitomi looked out the window with worried eyes. They were going to enter Lowenia in a few minutes. Van told her that they would go and protect the energist mines, since soldiers were already protecting the capital city. Last time Hitomi had been in an energist mine was when she had that encounter with the snake, and Van got whipped because of her. She went over to the cargo bay to say a final good bye to Van.
"Hitomi, what are you doing here?" he asked when he saw her enter.
"Well, we're almost near the energist mines. I just came to bid you farewell, and to tell you to be careful out there."
"Thanks. Don't worry. I'll be careful," Van added when he saw her look at him oddly.
"Van, keep your visor down, and be prepared for surprises. I have a feeling we'll have a lot of them." she said.
Van nodded, and then stepped into Escaflowne. Hitomi waved him goodbye, and then went to take a seat against a window.
Lowenia's energist mines looked just like the ones she encountered eight years ago. Hitomi shivered. She didn't want to think of that ugly snake.
"There you are," she heard the raspy voice behind her.
"Priestess, I didn't know you were on board." Hitomi turned around to talk to that strange woman.
"Lady Celena asked me to be here. Apparently, she feels safer when I'm around." Eunice said.
"I have a feeling it's not you though," Hitomi smiled knowingly.
"Yes, you're right. Although I do help her channel her aura so she'll feel better." the priestess confirmed.
"What does the High Order exactly do?" Hitomi asked.
"Oh no, she's much brighter than I thought," Eunice thought. "I must tell her, although it may alter fate. I cannot lie, that shall crumble all our plans." "It just keeps track of history, and of the major discoveries here on Gaea," she said aloud.
"But you said it also has to do with sorcery. Does the High Order somehow deal with the channelling of auras, or the prediction of the future?" Hitomi asked.
"Damn her, she keeps touching all the major points. This may dilute our plans." Eunice thought.
She didn't have time to answer Hitomi's question thought, because the Zaibach attack started. Out of nowhere, Zaibach floating fortresses appeared. Hitomi was hit with a vision.
It was the red Guymelef, and it was looking for Van. Equipped with the new weapon, he cut his way through the soldiers protecting the mine, looking for Van. She saw him attack, but Escaflowne suddenly disappeared.
The vision ended, leaving Hitomi unsatisfied.
"Van?" she asked mentally.
"Yeah, I'm here." he answered
"Watch out for the red Guymelef." she told him.
"Ok, got you." he said and closed the connection.
Hitomi sighed. That vision did not even tell her half the things she needed to know. It was just like bait, and she felt like the fish that just swallowed it.
"Visions have a way of doing that don't they?" Eunice asked.
"Huh?" Hitomi asked as if awakened from a dream.
"That vision left you unsatisfied didn't it?" Eunice asked.
"Yes. But wait. How did you know I was having a vision?" Hitomi asked.
"Well, I could see it by the way your body went limp. Like in a trance." the woman told her.
"Yes, I tend to do that. I seem to receive much better when I am completely relaxed." Hitomi confessed.
"I have averted her question. Phew, that was a close call," Eunice thought. "Look, our forces are winning," she said aloud.
"Where's Lady Celena?" Hitomi asked. "She should watch this."
"Lady Celena is out there on the battlefield. She is directing the ground attack group." Eunice informed Hitomi.
"I can't believe Allen would let her do something like that. Wouldn't that awaken the murderous personality of Dilandau?" Hitomi asked.
"Well, no, Celena forever locked Dilandau's personality out of her mind when she went to that sorcerer."
"I never knew that," Hitomi said. "I still can't believe Allen would let her do it though."
"It was her wish. Allen does not oppose her wishes. The sisters told him it was best that way. Celena is very frail."
Hitomi was silent. She was watching the battlefield. Muffled cries were coming from outside. She grabbed her knees and watched anxiously for her premonition to take place.
Outside, it was a different matter. The cries of the fighting were deafening. The mechanical sounds of the guymelefs could be heard for miles. Well, the sounds of the guymelefs that could be seen anyway. Van was hunting the ones with stealth cloaks, using what Hitomi taught him a while ago. He had cut open about two dozen, when he spotted the red guymelef.
"There it is." He thought. "That's the exact same guymelef Dillandau had eight years ago. How can it be? Dillandau is no more." Van thought.
"Hey Van. There's the red guymelef!" Allen warned him.
"I know. I saw it. Who could it be piloting it?" Van asked.
"Let's just be on the watch for it." Allen said.
The red guymelef was making his way through the crowd. The pilot laughed evilly. "There you are Van! I'll finally get my revenge!" he yelled maniacally.
"No! You shall keep your revenge in check for a while. You are there only on one mission. To bring Lady Celena back to me." a sharp voice was heard over the radio.
"But, you promised I could burn this wretched country." The pilot protested.
"I did no such thing, and unless you want me to disembody you, you better bring me Lady Celena!" the voice boomed.
"Yes sir," the pilot said and closed the radio. "But before I bring her to you, I must clear the place of all this garbage. It was so hard to find her with all of those guymelefs around I will say." He laughed again maniacally and made his way through the crowd.
Van moved to intercept the guymelef.
"Let's put an end to this!" he yelled.
"Gladly!" the pilot said and brought out his flame-thrower. Escaflowne jumped and the red guymelef missed. Unfortunately, Allen and Scherazade were right behind Van and Escaflowne. They were both scorched.
"Brother!" Celena screamed from down below.
Allen and his guymelef collapsed. Celena ran to the place where he collapsed, and helped him get out of his damaged suit.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"Yeah," Allen coughed convulsively. "My mecha is not though."
"You don't look too good yourself," Celena noted.
Just then, something huge picked her up. It was the red guymelef.
"Celena!" Allen screamed.
"I'll go get her!" Van told him.
The red guymelef shot up into the sky, heading for a nearby fortress. Van and Escaflowne were right on its tail.
"You haven't seen anything yet, Van!" The pilot screamed.
He activated his stealth cloak, and just like magic, all the fortresses disappeared. Van was left clueless.
"Celeeeennnnnaaaaa!!!!" Allen screamed from down below before he passed out.