Prologue: Kindred Spirits
Note: The Vision of Escaflowne and all of its characters do not belong
to me and standard disclaimers apply. I am merely borrowing the characters
for a little fun =D *Yes I know, nice and short* And now...on
with the fanfic!
--------------------------------
A brunette in her mid-twenties stepped onto the crowded track field, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight as she examined the many high school students clad in running shorts and tank tops. The weather was not only hot, but also extremely muggy, and she continued to fan herself with her hands while she carefully searched the bustling field. Suddenly her eyes settled upon a young woman with bobbed sandy hair and bright green eyes standing beside the track holding a stopwatch.
the woman called, waving her hands excitedly to catch her friend's attention. A delighted grin slowly drifted across Hitomi's face before finally reaching her jade-colored eyes as the stopwatch fell from her hands to dangle around her neck.
exclaimed Hitomi in greeting to her best friend. What brings you out here?
Yukari put her hands on her hips and shot Hitomi a mock-angry glare. Why didn't you tell me you agreed to become the temporary track coach? I suppose I still wouldn't know if Amano hadn't told me about it!
Hitomi smiled sheepishly at her friend's indignation. It was pretty sudden. I didn't know myself until about five days ago. Kobayashi-san broke an ankle last week and they were having trouble finding a replacement on such short notice, so he suggested me for the job. I had already taken a three-week vacation from work, and I couldn't refuse the opportunity.
Yukari sighed before giving Hitomi an exasperated grin. Alright, since you have a good excuse, I'll have to let this one slide. Anyway, I left the office early this afternoon so I could catch your first competition. How are the girls doing today?
Hitomi shrugged her slim shoulders. They've been working very hard, but the competition is definitely going to be a tough one. Still, I think they'll pull through. We have a couple of new runners and they look promising.
The two women's attention turned back to the track where a young girl stood warming up and doing stretches. Though a good distance away, Yukari immediately noticed the shiny dark hair pulled into two neat braids and bright green eyes that marked the girl's features. As she surreptitiously watched the teenager bend over to stretch out her legs, Yukari's face lit up with a nostalgic smile.
Who's that, Hitomi?
That's Miyazaki Akemi. She's a first year high school student and one of the best runners on the team.
A thoughtful expression crossed Yukari's face as she continued to look the young girl over. She reminds me of you back then, Hitomi. Good determination and intense concentration, the marks of a real winner.
You should know, Yukari. You were our manager for three years. A faraway look suddenly descended upon Hitomi's green eyes without warning, the emerald depths glazing over as faded images made their way to the surface of her mind with disturbing clarity. A distant land filled with mystery, old friends, and most importantly, a fifteen-year old boy with dark hair, serious brown eyes, and the most beautiful wings she'd ever seen. Ten years had passed, but the memories still remained crystal clear. Clear, but nevertheless unreachable.
Yukari waved an energetic hand in her friend's face, trying to get her attention. Green eyes snapped to awareness as Hitomi focused a startled gaze on her friend.
Are you okay? questioned Yukari with concern. Though this wasn't the first time Yukari had witnessed her friend spacing out in the middle of a conversation, but nevertheless it still worried her. Hitomi flashed a bright smile and gave a reassuring nod.
Of course! I'm going to have a talk with the girls before the competition starts. Why don't you grab a seat on the bleachers and I'll join you when the first race begins?
Hitomi grinned, waving energetically before blowing a whistle and motioning the runners over. They gathered around in a tight circle and Yukari looked on as Hitomi gave her team final words of encouragement. With an emphatic nod Hitomi uttered one last good luck before making her way back to the bleachers and taking a seat in the front row next to her friend. The rest of the team gathered around the start line, giving Miyazaki Akemi a few encouraging grins and pats on the shoulder before moving further down the field to watch her run the first 100-meter race. Akemi bent to retie her shoelaces one last time before settling her feet against the blocks and kneeling down. With a silent prayer she closed her eyes for a few seconds and waited for the signal.
The sound of a pistol cracked in the air and the runners shot forward amidst the wild cheers of the crowd. Oblivious to the screams and shouts of her classmates, Akemi quickly took the lead, her eyes focusing on nothing but the finish line ahead of her. Without warning, the track field and the finish line began to fade together in a mosaic of colors as Akemi's vision blurred. After a moment of disorientation, Akemi found that she was no longer in the middle of a track field, but standing in the midst of an ancient city. White marble buildings stood in ruins around her and grass poked through the cracks of what once must have been a well-constructed road. The air was filled with an eerie silence, causing the young girl to shiver as she cautiously stepped forward. Suddenly a shadow fell over the abandoned city, and Akemi looked up just in time to see a creature flying across the sky above her.
A white dragon, she thought to herself. How beautiful
It was her last thought before blackness engulfed her.