~Elements of the Mind~
It has been six years since Hitomi found herself in Gaea. Much has happened in the six years, more has happened than anyone could possibly have fathomed.
"The body is simply a shell for the mind."
~Hitomi wiped the fog off the bathroom mirror and gazed at her reflection. She couldn't believe what she saw, a small girl with shoulder length brown hair and blank green eyes stared back at her. Under the girls eyes were purple rings and hollow cheeks caused by a combination of stress, lack of sleep, over exercising and poor nutrition. Averting her eyes, Hitomi moved away from the mirror.
She had never been a vein girl who put emphasis on appearance but today the mirror told no lies. She was sick. Not with a viral disease no that would be to simple this was a disease of a tortured mind. Her mind was constantly bombarded by irregular and horrifying thoughts and every time she let her mind wonder destruction would follow. Whenever she touched anything sentimental to someone she would see their whole past and future. Like a movie in her mind, stranger's fates would play out before her. Her visions had come down to point were she could be contemplating a problem and time would freeze. In her mind she would see the consequence of both actions before she would snap back to reality. She had to quite school and move out of her hometown because people thought she was crazy and a bad omen. Now she lived alone, trapped in her own mind, a place where she could never escape.
"Fate is an excuse for life as well as an excuse for death."
~A small woman with long white hair lay in front of a fire, her eyes where pale blue and she had no pupils. A shadowed figure sat across from her.
"Her power is growing Shakaku, we must get to her soon." He said without moving his lips, "If we don't, all will be lost."
The figure looked up at Shakaku. Her face was expressionless and her head slightly bowed. "I know, but her thoughts are descending into chaos. Alas the fates have spun one fate for her and one alone, and that is all I know." Shakaku closed her eyes and surrendered to sleep.
The shadowed figure stood slowly and walked a small distance into the forest before he un-sheathed his sword and held it to the night sky.
"Shakaku, don't lie to me." He whispered before stabbing the sword in the ground. "Lying makes nature cry…" As he spoke a small green vine sprouted and began to slowly wrap itself around the man's sword. Once it reached the top of the sword a small white flower bloomed. He picked the flower and stared at it almost lovingly before casting it to the wind and shedding a single tear.
"The eyes are the windows to the soul."*
~Every morning Hitomi ran. This morning was no exception. At seven o'clock she had tied her shoes and pulled on her sweatshirt before she stepped outside into the cool morning air. An early fog had rolled in and it hung in the streets, it's misty arms caressing the trees and cars. A soft breeze played through the trees and caused the wind chimes to sing their melodic song. Hitomi stretched quickly then started running down the street towards the park where she always ran. The park was deserted at this time in the morning and the solitude appealed to her. The suns vibrant rays began to shine brightly causing the fog to lift revealing the park in its green slender.
The morning ritual of running was more than a step to stay in shape. The origin of this habit came from deep within Hitomi's psyche. Whenever she ran, Hitomi could leave the visions behind her and the faster she ran the longer it would take for them to catch up to her again. Sometimes this meant running until she collapsed from exhaustion. Running was a metaphor for what she really want to do, which was end her life but since she didn't have the nerves to die by her own hand, running was the next best thing.
This morning Hitomi was having a difficult time out running her visions. Everywhere she turned they were gnawing at her mind. Suddenly she froze and looked around the park and then up at the sky.
"Is it snowing?" She asked aloud although no one was there. Small, fluffy, white pieces of "snow" fell gracefully from the sky and stared to cover the ground at her feet. "But it's much to early for snow." She held out her hands to catch one of the white flakes and brought it up to her face for inspection. The piece of "snow" didn't melt at her touch, which Hitomi found surprising. She let out at a startled gasped once she realized what she was holding. In her hands was a pure white feather. "Why are feathers falling from the sky?" Hitomi began to wonder.
The feather she held started to glow and visions started swirling in her mind. She saw great fires and battle fields covered in the bodies of the dead, she saw four different ornate swords, she saw a mysterious girl with a haunting expression, she also saw a dark man with brown hair and deep golden eyes and finally she saw…Van Fanel. He stared in her direction, his eyes fixated on something just behind her left shoulder. Hitomi turned around quickly to see what was there, but when she looked there was nothing. She turned back to Van but he was gone as well and all the feathers had vanished saved the one she held tightly in her hands.
"Darkness is the essence of light."
~When she awoke, she could feel his strong arms around her waist holding her close to him. Shakaku opened her pale eyes, although she couldn't see it she knew it was beautiful morning. Her companion was awake; she could feel it in his pulse. "Taishin, the fates have spoken to me once again." She whispered as she slowly stood and walked to the campfire, Taishin followed and waited to find out what she'd seen.
Watching her work her magic never failed to awe him. Shakaku gracefully extended her arms in front of her and made the shape of a triangle with her fingers. Her brow was knit in extreme concentration as he watch sparks begin to gather in the center of the triangle.
"Okibi!" she murmured before flames shot out of her hands to the waiting wood. Within seconds a fire was blazing in the pit. Shakaku waited a moment before she turned to Taishin. "Our Queen is coming soon." She said hesitantly.
"And the Dragon?" Taishin pushed.
"He'll be here, but it will take time and patients, for he doesn't wish to fight. The Fates have already forgiven me for what we must do." She paused for a moment, "I can tell that you are confused, Taishin. Worrying like that will only give you wrinkles." Shakuku laughed softy but stopped when she felt his hand touch her cheek.
"You are blind my angel but yet you see me so clearly." Taishin whispered before softly pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was short and gentle. When he pulled away, he saw love glimmer in her pale eyes.
"In my world of darkness, you are my only light." She whispered back.
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So there is my fic! It's the first fic I've ever written so please be kind but don't forget to review anyway. It will get more romantic and Van appear in the next chapter. It will also get longer and there will be more action. As a beginner constructive criticism is welcome but as a beginner I am also insecure about my work so please be kind. If you enjoy this short work of fiction and would like me to post more, just say the word. Even if only a few of you respond it will be worth it. Thank you for reading.
* If you said that and would like me to quote it just tell me or if you know who said it tell me because I didn't and I don't want to take credit for it!
Disclaimer~ I don't own Escaflowne (darn it!) some lucky ppl in Japan do.