Lost and Found

Lost and Found

By: rainjewel

A/N: Yeah, yeahthat last chapter didn't have much point. Just some wonderful romantic fluff. *sigh* Well, low and behold, this is the last chapter of the alternate ending. I hope that this story was up to par with the wishes of my reviewers who demanded asked for an alternate ending. *grin* I surprised myself by actually enjoying writing something happy and romantic. Who would have guessed? Also, I'm using this note to let everyone know that I won't be writing for a little while. I am moving into a new house and will temporarily be out of service. I'm planning on working on a dark lemon of Dilandau/Van. Don't ask me how that's going to work, I don't even know yet! Anyways, enjoy this chapter, and please (as always) review. And if you're feeling really spunky, I'd be grateful if you compare/contrast the two stories, the original and this one. Thank you! Oh, and I didn't proofread this very well, so consider it hot off the press and in it's raw format.

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Ryan

"Gadeth! Get some rope! We have to tie him down!" Allen orders in a strained voice. In his grasp is one bloodied, pained king of Fanelia. I'm standing by the window with Hitomi (who is busy consoling Merle). It seems like it has been three years since Van came out of Escaflowne, dripping from wounds that no one could see. In reality, its probably only been a few hours.

"Here son, take his legs," Gadeth says with a tilt of his head in my direction. I nod, and latch my hands firmly onto Van's lower body while Gadeth goes searching for the rope. Immediately I feel very grateful for all of those long hours at the Vione gym. It's like trying to hold down a tornado. I take a glance over and see how Allen's doing.

I've always thought of Allen as a strong individual. Behind that horrid fluffy uniform and long girlish hair, Allen is a verywell, macho guy. Like Barbie on testosterone. Now there's a thought. Anyway, it seemed kind of funny that Allen was having so much trouble keeping Van under control. But now he looks as if he has his hands full with Van's writhing torso and straining arms. But now I can see why. I'm using practically all of my strength to hold the King down. I'm shocked he's so strong! Van seemed kind of "small." Not weak, since you can see every muscle on the guy, but he's very thin. Just goes to show you what pain and adrenaline can do to you.

"Here Boss!" Gadeth calls out, interrupting my thoughts. I turn my head and see the sergeant toss Allen a bundle of rope. For an instant I relax my grip on Van, which is a stupid move. The young monarch cries out in agony—What are they doing to Escaflowne?—and his leg spasms violently. Out of the corner of my eye I see his foot flail out and then it connects with the side of my head. For a few minutes blackness envelopes me and I lose the grip I had on my surroundings. However, it doesn't last long and the world slams back into view, though it wavers for a minute or two.

Immediately I feel Van's foot fly out again and reflexively I grab ahold of it and pin the dangerous appendage down once again. Only then do I feel the blood trickle down my chin from where Van's foot connected with the cut on the side of my cheek.

"Damn," I mumble darkly. I dart my tongue out in vain to try and catch the blood, but no such luck.

"Here, let me," a soft femine voice says. I look up, expecting to see Hitomi, but she's disappearing out the door with a wailing Merle. Instead, Millerna is standing in front of me. She's been hovering about Van like a frantic butterfly.

Barbie on Crack. Why do I have Barbie on the brain?

"Don't move," the princess commands. Gently she reaches up and dabs the cut with a wet cloth. I try not to roll my eyes or laugh. It's a small cut on my cheek. If you really want to something to freak out about you should check out my back.

"Here kid, I'll take over from here," Gadeth says. I wonder where he came from. "You shouldn't over exert your arms too much, and you certainly don't want another kick in the head."

I comply and back off, seething. Millerna follows, continuing her ministrations. I resist the urge not to hit something. Does everyone think I'm made of glass? Now I know what Hitomi was complaining about when she said these guys are "manly men."

Then again, my arms feel like dead weight and I can sense them trembling.

But it could just be my rage doing that.

Count to ten1, 2, 3this is stupid. New topic

"Millerna-hime?" I ask abruptly, watching Allen bind Van's legs to the table.

"Yes?" I wince as she places a bandage on my cheek.

"Couldn't you just drug him?" I say. The princess shoots me a bewildered look. "I mean, couldn't you give him some anesthesia to knock him out so he doesn't hurt himself?" Or anyone else, for that matter.

"Yes, but he has to stop flailing around so much," Millerna says. She cups my chin in her hand and turns my head to the side, examining her work. "Once Allen has Van tied down I'll put him to sleep." The princess then eyes my arms (which are unbandaged) and here baby-blues light up like a child at a candy store. I take this as a good time to leave.

"UhI'm going to get Hitomi. Thanks for the bandage," I say hastily, backpedalling.

Millerna gives a weird look but then I'm out the door. I assume Hitomi's taken that catgirl to the room the two girls share.

Or, at least they're supposed to be sharing.

I feel a wide grin spread across my face. But it abruptly stops as my stomach gives an unexpected lurch.

"Well fuck," I mutter, stopping in the hallway, my hand to my stomach. It's the same as the ache I felt in the Alseides. And, I suddenly remember, the same as the pains I felt the day I was whisked away from Earth. And no, it's not cramps.

Which can only mean one thing.

"Hitomi!" I cry out, suddenly feeling a grave urgency to see her. I begin running in the direction of Merle's room. I fly past the working Ispano clan (which will forever in my mind be "those freaky Jawa guys").

"Hitomi!"

I see her standing beside Dryden (who will forever be "Gaea's answer to John Lennon"), watching Escaflowne. She turns to me, her face an unfortunate mask of worry.

"Ryan?" she asks quizzically. I stop and catch my breath. Dryden looks down, an eyeball raised behind his glasses. Hitomi's eyes widen.

"I need to talk to you," I explain quickly. I grab Hitomi's hand and walk briskly in the direction of my room. I am vaguely aware of Dryden chuckling in the background. Hitomi catches wind of my urgency and doesn't say anything until we reach my room.

Hitomi, remind me to tell you how much I love you for being so perceptive.

The minute we get into my bedroom, Hitomi abruptly becomes an inanimate object. Her pupils dilate and she stands completely still. Meanwhile, my stomach lurches, and I'm puzzled by her behavior.

Then it clicks. Visionshe's having a vision.

Suddenly she gasps and takes a few shaky steps before her knees give out and she begins to fall. I reach out and grab her around the shoulders, catching her.

"Are you all right?" I ask. Hitomi turns around and hugs me tightly, using my body for support.

"NO!" she says fiercely. Her breath is warm upon my skin.

"Why not?" I ask, though I know that's not what she's referring to.

"That's not what I'm talking about!" she practically screams into my chest.

"I know," I whisper in a tone used on distressed lions. Or Dilandau. I smooth her hair with my hand.

"You are not leaving me," Hitomi states in a quieter tone. I lay my head on hers, her light brown hair soft on my cheek.

"I have to," I reply, "When?" I add on. It should sound absurd, but it doesn't. Hitomi looks up at me.

"At sunrise," she says. I nod. Hitomi cups the back of my neck and I lean down as she gives me a sweet, chaste kiss.

"How did you know?" Hitomi asks, pulling away.

"Stomach pains," I explain. I kiss her chin. Hitomi has a cute chin.

"You could just have an upset tummy," Hitomi says, patting my stomach through my white tanktop. I grin sadly.

You wish.

"No, these are different. They're" I pause and scratch my head, "They'reit's as if I'm trying to be pulled away stomach first. It's not hunger pains, it's like an outside force,' if you can imagine that."

"I can," Hitomi says. She hugs me again, burying her face in my shoulder. "I don't want you to go. Argh! This is so fucking unfair!"

I do believe that's the first time I've ever heard Hitomi say "fuck." For some reason that strikes me as funny and I begin to laugh.

Hitomi doesn't see it that way.

She pulls away and glares at me reprimandingly. I cut my laugh short and grow serious once more. There will be another time for humor.

"Don't worry, you'll see me again," I say in a lighthearted tone. I desperately want to clear up the serious atmosphere.

"you don't know that," Hitomi says, shaking her head. She turns away from me. "What if you go back to England instead of Japan? What if you go back when we were thirteen? What if" She trails off, leaving the greatest terror unspoken.

What if you don't remember?

What if I don't? I shake my head. I will! I take a few steps and wrap my arms around Hitomi's waist, hugging her from behind. Gently I kiss her neck, pushing the cloth of her jacket and blouse aside. She leans against me, claspering her hands on my arms.

"I'll never forget this. I'll never forget you," I whisper. I don't know if I believe myself or not. "Don't worry. My work is done, and it's simply time for me to go back," I add on impulsively.

"What was work?'" Hitomi murmurs. She slips an arm around my neck, running her fingers through my hair. It feels splendid.

"I don't know. I supposeI suppose it was to help you," I reply, pausing for a moment. I don't know what I'm talking about, but the words seem right. "But you don't need my help anymore. You're strong and perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. Not to say that you weren't in the first place."

Hitomi lets out an airy chuckle and kisses my cheek. "No, I was a wimp."

"And look at you now," I say, giving her a playful nip on the ear, "You're a regular Amazon. Now, I believe, it's time for you to help."

"Van."

"Exactly. I've seen the guy fight and he's damn good. He didn't fare very well on the battlefield today. He needs you there. At least for right now," I explain, understanding my words only as they leave my mouth, "I'm.I think I'm getting in the way."

"I don't love Van! Not the way I love you," Hitomi says in a stern, decided tone. I catch her chin in my hand, turning her head so I can graze her lips with mine.

"I know that silly. You don't have to convince me," I say with a grin, breaking away. Hitomi smiles hesitantly back, then her face blanches. She turns around in my arms and reaches her hands to my face. Her fingers trace my features, locking them into memory.

"You said time passes quicker on Gaea. I don't want to be sixty when I get back," Hitomi says, trying to explain her actions.

Nor do I want you to be.

"It doesn't work that way. Time is time. I might be 17 or so here, but I'm only 15 on Earth," I reply. Hitomi nods, looking relieved. She rests her head in the hollow of my neck. Out of the corner of my eye I see the lightening of the sky. Only an hour, at the most, remains of my time on Gaea.

"Hitomi, I don't have a lot of time left here," I state neutrally, just wanting to point out the fact. My stomach heaves violently as if to prove it. I groan a little. That one hurt.

Hitomi pulls back and nods, her eyes bright. "Where shall we go?"

"The hangar? Oh!" I break away from Hitomi, walking over to my bedside table. I scoop up some papers on the top, and (as an afterthought) reach into the drawer, pulling out Dilandau's diadem. I slip it into the baggy pockets of my oversized pants. I hope Hitomi doesn't notice. Only then do I turn around and walk back over to her. "Here," I say, handing the papers over to Hitomi. She eyeballs them with an uncomprehending look upon her face.

"What"

"They're Zaibach military strategies I drew. Give them to Allen. Tell Vanwhen's he's better, that the Dragon Slayers shoulden't be too much of a problem anymore. They're exceptional guymelef pilots and skilled swordsman, but Dilandau's the military genius. Was the military genius," I explain. Absently I rub the pocket Dilandau's diadem is concealed in. "The only person Van has to worry about now would be Folken, Zaibach's Strategos. He's the reason Zaibach's winning this damn war. Those are his strategies. If you eliminated him—"

"He's Van's brother," Hitomi cuts in. My face falls.

"I knew that," I say quietly. I can sense Hitomi's opinion of me plummet to the ground.

Splat. Damn my mental imaging.

"People shouldn't have to make decisions like this!" Hitomi cries out frustratedly.

"No, they shouldn't," I agree. Again I'm struck by how Hitomi seems to understand me. I'm also struck by a stomachache. I take Hitomi's hand in mine and kiss her palm. "Come on, lets go to the hangar."

I push open the door and almost plow right into a bewildered Moleman. Hitomi screams bloody murder, pressing herself against my back. The Moleman tumbles backwards, screaming himself. I clench Hitomi protectively, startled by her actions.

"What the hell?" I ask rather loudly, my breathing rapid.

"I hate that guy!" Hitomi explains, obviously recovering herself. I relax, letting out a deep breath.

Holy cheese, I think I almost wet myself. God, that girl can screamHold it; what kind of swear word is "holy cheese?"

"Are you okay?" I ask, shaking my head. I'm getting weird.

"Yes, I'll explain all of it later. When I see you again," Hitomi replies. I smile and nod, then take Hitomi's hand again and hurry to the hangar. We have to stop once for my stomach lurches and I can't move for a second.

It will all be over soon.

I don't want it to be over.

Hitomi and I stop at the far end of the hangar, far away from the scrambling Jawas. Coincidentally, this is where the Alseides is docked. I'm going to miss that thing.

"Better say goodbye," Hitomi whispers. I nod, slipping my arm around her waist. I look up and see Allen and Gadeth leaning against the glass window above me, watching Escaflowne. I raise my hand in a mock military salute (Earth style) and wave to them. Both look bewildered. I turn and wave to Dryden, and the merchant does the same, a knowing smile painting his lips. I change my wave to a "peace" sign as a joke. Dryden mimics the action and I laugh deeply. Hitomi pulls my head down and kisses me passionately, shutting me up.

And, of course, that Good Ol' Beam of Light comes zinging down, enveloping us.

Nice fucking timing. I better get Frequent Flyer miles for this.

I break our kiss off. "I'll see you soon," I say to Hitomi.

"I love you," Hitomi says, hugging me quickly and planting a hasty kiss on my lips.

"I love you too," I reply. I lean forward and whisper into her ear. "Be strong."

And then I shoot upward with a violent speed that makes my head spin. For a moment I think I'm going to hit the roof of the merchant ship (or burst into tiny smoking bits) but I feel nothing until a sharp pain flashes through my body and my mind goes blank.

~*~

"Ryan! There you are!"

Hitomi, it's too early. Need sleep.

"Sleeping? Wake up! You missed everything!"

"Huh?"

I snap open my eyes, feeling a rough shake on my shoulder. I sit up quickly, thoroughly confused. All around me are hundreds of books. I look down at my hands, which are resting on an opened text.

Dryden's library? No, that's not it, I left there. Which means

Abruptly I shove my chair back, knocking over a gymbag. I stand up, looking around.

"Jeez! What was that for?" says a slightly familiar voice. I turn around quickly. A girl with blood red hair stands in front of me, hands on her hips. I recognize her immediately, though she looks years older then the last time I saw her.

The one and only, Uchida Yukari.

"Yukari! Is that you?" I ask surprisedly, making double checks.

"Of course it's me, who were you expecting, Buddha?" she asks irritably. I smile. I know she's pissed. I look down at my own body. Strangely enough, I'm wearing a suit and tie.

What's this?

My school uniform

How did I know that?

Because you've been wearing it for the past year and a half

I don't like playing question and answer in my head. Especially when my answers come from me. And I shouldn't know those answers.

Yukari's pulling on my arm. "Come on! I couldn't find you and you missed—"

"Where am I?" I ask, cutting her off. Yukari looks at me funny. I grab her shoulders and ask the question again. The strangeness of my situation has finally hit me and I'm feeling panicky.

"You're at school," Yukari answers in a tone that clearly states that she thinks I'm a moron.

"On Earth, in Japan," I ask, realizing that I'm talking in perfect Japanese. Yukari gives me that look again. "Uh, never mind, that was dumb question. What year is it?"

"It's 1996," Yukari says quietly. Now she looks frightened.

"And why am I still here, in Japan? Why am I not in England?" I ask frantically. If I've been thrown two years into the future, I better know my history. If I have history, that is.

"You got an extension, remember? Look, did you have a bad dream?" Yukari asks. I don't answer and hug her tightly, planting a friendly kiss on her cheek.

"I'm back!!" I say ecstatically. I knew what Yukari was going to say! I have memories from a life that I haven't been living.

That's really fucked up. But I don't care.

Suddenly, a thought strikes me.

"Where's Hitomi?" I ask abruptly, pulling away from a very shocked Yukari.

"Huh?"

"Where's Hitomi?" I repeat. Yukari blinks, then becomes all business-like, putting on her track-manager demeanor.

Wow, I didn't know that she was track-manager.

Yes you did

Shut up.

"That's what I came to tell you about! You slept through the trials! I couldn't find you anywhere! Anyway, that's not important. Hitomi collapsed on the track! She was running and then fainted dead away! Come on!" Yukari grabs my hand and starts pulling me away. Reflexively I reach out and snag what I know is my gym bag and follow her out the door.

She takes off at a breakneck run. I follow her, my sneakered feet pounding through the halls. As we pass through the halls, I glance around at the classrooms, recognizing them as my own.

This is weird. I know I have classes in there. I even know my grades in there. Perhaps this is Fate's way of saying "So sorry for chucking you to another planet and putting you through hell for two years."

Yukari turns a sharp right and stops in front of a door. I skid to a stop.

This is the—

I push through the door, brushing past Yukari. I toss my gym bag aside and run hurriedly to the bed. I forget about my strange predicament, thinking only of the honey-colored haired girl asleep on the bed.

She told me this was how she saw Van the first time. I wonder, I wonder if she's gone there yet. Does she know?

Does she remember?

"She hasn't waken up yet," says a brown-brown haired boy who's sitting on the other side of the bed. I hadn't noticed him. I look up at him.

"Allen!" I blurt out before I can stop myself. The boy looks exactly like the Knight. Well, that is, if Allen had chin-length brown hair and brown eyes, but that's irrelevant.

That's not Allen, that's

Susumo Amano

Oh yeah. He's—

The track captain. Yukari secretly likes him. Hitomi does too. You don't

I feel myself bristling.

"Sorry, Amano-senpai. I forgot myself," I explain in a neutral tone. We'll see who Hitomi likes when she wakes up.

"That's fine Labariel," Amano says. He even has Allen's voice!

Goddamnit. I can't escape that man. Fate, you are one annoying son-of-a-bitch.

I need to clean up my mouth.

But I'll do that later, since Hitomi's eyes are fluttering. Yukari comes over to the bed, leaning over Amano's shoulder. Hmm.

Hitomi looks at our trio, her eyes slightly glazed.

"YukariAllen-san!" she says, surprised. I grin.

She's been there, she's been there!! Does

"Why is everyone calling me Allen?" Amano asks, interrupting.

Wouldn't you like to know, track boy.

"Ryan!" Hitomi shrieks. She sits straight up, sending Amano and Yukari flying backwards so as not to get smacked in the face. I don't move, and reach out and wrap her in an embrace. She returns it.

"So," I begin, "You thought he was Allen too?" Hitomi laughs and pulls away, taking a good hard look at my face.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you," she says breathlessly.

"Ditto," I reply. Out of the corner of my eye I see a confused Yukari dragging a wide-eyed Amano out the door. Good luck to the two of them.

"How long have you been here?" Hitomi asks, running her hands over my arms.

"You got me. I just woke up to an irate Yukari," I shift my weight, sitting more comfortably on the small bed. "One minute I'm saying goodbye to you, the next my world goes black, ad then I wake up to Yukari screaming."

"How can you be here?" Hitomi says. She slips out from under the covers and kneels on the mattress. She reaches out and runs her hands through my hair, taking a visual inventory while I talk.

"I don't know! But that doesn't really matter. I'm learning about a life I haven't lived. Seems I took a trick from Dilandau's book," I say with a laugh. The memory of Dilandau strikes something inside me. "Hitomi! What happened after I left?"

Hitomi stops, and trembles violently. I take her hands in mine, thinking the worst.

"We won," she states simply. Thank God.

"How?" I prod.

"Folken came over to our side. He convinced Asturia to break the alliance with Zaibach and take up arms with the other countries. Then, when we were on the battlefield, Basram launched a secret weapon that all but wiped out the armies, allied forces and Zaibach alike. Van and Allen survived, but Folken—" Hitomi stops and chokes on her words, "Folken went to Zaibach and killed Dornkirk. He died in the process. The Zone of Absolute Fortune was set into place, but Van and I managed to right it," Hitomi explains.

Folken changed sidesI must have started a trend.

"Why did Folken betray Zaibach?" I ask. Hitomi looks up, her eyes wide.

"I almost forgot. Forgive me. Ryan, thethe Dragon Slayers died," she says. "They surrounded Van, but he was the one who won the battle. After that Folken employed his Intensified Luck Soldiers. They were killed, and that was the last straw. He told me that they were pretty close to him, " Hitomi explains everything very quickly, as if announcing their deaths lessens the pain. If only.

It had to happen. It was war. People die in war.

What kind of messed up shit is that?

"But, Gaea has returned to peace?" I ask quietly. I ignore the dull ache in my heart. I focus on Hitomi, reveling in the fact that she's returned to me.

"Yes."

"Then that's the only thing that's important," I say. I take Hitomi's hand and pull her from the bed. The minute she's on her feet I hug her fiercely.

"I was worried you wouldn't remember," I confess.

"And I was worried I'd never get back," Hitomi adds on. She leans back and looks into my eyes again. "Silly, ne?"

"Not as silly as you trying to rescue me that night," I reply, grinning at the memory. I'll never forget the look on her face when I stripped my armor off during the escape.

"Hey, it wasn't as silly as you singing to me chipmunk-style,'" Hitomi says with sly grin. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, but I'm your chipmunk," I say, rubbing her nose with mine.

"And I'm your Knight ina big stinky black cloak," Hitomi replies with a laugh. I smile and kiss her. My first kiss on Earth.

"Hey, I don't know what you guys are talking about, but that was so mushy and lovey-dovey I think I might just puke," says Yukari in a chastising tone. Hitomi and I pull apart, no doubt blushing furiously. Amano stands behind Yukari, a strange, satisfied look on his face. I don't think I want to know what happened in that hallway.

"Oh Yukari, stop being such a mother hen," Hitomi says.

"I'm not! Anyway, I was just wondering if you two would like to go get some tea with Amano and I. Wanna go?" Yukari says, flicking her hair. The action reminds me of Millerna.

"Sure," Hitomi and I reply in unison. We turn and look at each other and smile. Hitomi winks and puts a finger to her lips. I roll my eyes and nod.

Don't worry Hitomi, it's our little secret.

"Come on! We don't have all day," Amano says exasperatedly. I take Hitomi's hand in mine and snatch up my gym bag.

"We're coming, don't have kittens," I reply. Amano looks stricken and I laugh as Hitomi and I walk through the door. Hitomi wraps her arm around my waist and her other around Yukari. Amano frowns for a second, then puts his arm on Yukari's shoulder and I do the same (though with Hitomi, of course) and we walk down the corridor and out of the school.

Out of the school and into a whole new world.

At least, for me.

~*~

Ryan Labariel stayed in Japan through his sophomore year in high school, but returned to England his junior year. He was, however, fortunate enough to return to Japan to attend a semester at the same high school.

After graduating from high school, Ryan returned to England to attend college in Oxford. Kanzaki Hitomi joined him there, during their freshman year. They both graduated with high honors. The two were married a year afterwards.

The two now live in London, where Hitomi is working as a track coach at a local high school and Ryan is the head of a street center for orphaned, abandoned, and impoverished children. He also was on England's Olympic fencing team (which won the gold medal). The happy couple have two boys, identical twins whose names are Dylan and Van. They also have a cat named Merle.

Atop their fireplace mantle is a glass cube, which the two refer to only as "The Paradox Box." In it is a golden diadem and a single white feather.

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A/N: Ta-da! It's done! It was a bit more rushed then I would have liked, but my computer is going to be dismantled in the next couple of days, so I had to get this story out. I hop you loved it as much as I did. Hey, didja notice how the viewpoint labeling was "Ryan" instead of "Migel?" I thought that was very clever. I can see you rolling your eyes. Stop that! *grin* I would like to thank all of you guys for reviewing and pushing me along. I'm sorry I have to leave! *begins humming theme to Titanic* Anyways, I will leave you alone and let you scurry on to that review box coughhintcough! Thanks again!

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