Formalities, formalities....

DISCLAIMER: Tenkuu no Escaflowne, its characters, plots, and storylines are the property of their respective owners. By writing this story, I do not claim any rights to or ownership of Tenkuu no Escaflowne, its characters, plots or storylines. If any of the rightful owners object to my use of said characters, plots and storylines, please notify me and I shall rectify the problem immediately. Let it be known that I am not using this story for profit. So don't sue me. Please.

How very anticlimactic, Hitomi thought, as she took in the smoldering candles and cheering friends. How silly of her. What had she been expecting, anyway? She returned to the important matter at hand: the eating of birthday cake.

Vaughn watched her as she sliced up the cake. The evening, he knew, was almost over, and soon they would each return to their respective dorms. This was quite possibly the last time he'd see her before winter break. Excellent. A month away from Hitomi might be what he needed to get her out of his system. If the feeling wasn't gone by the start of spring term, Vaughn resolved, he would consider pursuing it.

For a late-autumn night, it was quite warm. Hitomi even shed her crimson coat, slinging it over her shoulder as she and Diana walked home. "It feels like this term will never end. Ugh!" Diana groaned. "I can't wait for it to be over."

"Oh, take it easy. It's just one more week," Hitomi assured her. "Are you going home or staying?"

"Staying," Diana snorted. "Last time I went home, my parents said I wasn't welcome 'til my hair was a normal color and I'd taken out my piercings."

"Like that will ever happen," Hitomi laughed.

"That's what I said. You're going home, though, aren't you?"

"Mmmhhmmm," Hitomi nodded slowly.

"Don't get so excited, now," Diana sang sarcastically. "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

"I know. I haven't seen them in over a year, and I should be excited, but something won't let me. I guess… it's just that… well, I don't feel like I belong there anymore."

"In Japan?" Diana pressed. "Or with your family?"

"Well…" Hitomi hesitated. "Both, I think." She shook her head. "I don't know. It's probably nothing."

"It's probably finals!" Diana had a point. "That's my main worry, at least for right now. Ick. Finals are the pits." Hitomi smiled. Every once in a while, Diana and Laura sounded alike. Besides physical characteristics, it was one of the few things the twins shared.

They stopped in front of a three-story red-brick building. "You sure you don't want me to walk with you the rest of the way?" Diana asked. There it was again, Hitomi chuckled to herself.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's only a couple of blocks. Besides, then who would walk you home?" Hitomi pointed out knowingly.

"Aaah," Diana nodded in acknowledgement. "Well, then. Goodnight!" Diana smiled brightly as she walked towards the building's front door.

"Goodnight!" Hitomi reciprocated, and began to walk into the darkness.

"Hey, Hitomi!" Diana called. "Happy Birthday!" She giggled, and shut the door behind her. And Hitomi was left with her thoughts.

She sighed. This uneasiness she'd been feeling… of course she hadn't told Diana the whole truth. She didn't belong in Japan, or in Boston, or anywhere on Earth. She belonged with him….

"Van… I wish things were different." There. She had said it. She felt the feather grow warm once more. Before she knew it, she was swept up into the pillar of light, and Kanzaki Hitomi was no more. On Earth, anyway.

Van took a moment to stretch in his chair before getting to work on the prior day's reports. The early morning sunlight streamed in through the windows of the study, falling across his body, warming his skin. He let out a long sigh as his fingers flew to the red pendant that hung from his neck. How he would have liked it all to have turned out differently. It wasn't that he didn't love his life, and everyone.… The thought that had been nagging him for twenty-five years surfaced once again. What if he'd had the courage, if he'd taken the risk and –

"Milord?" The Chief of Night Security's voice broke into Van's mind.

"Yes, Tritoch?" Van snapped to attention.

"I apologize for the disturbance, my lord, but Akatriel here," he gestured to the scared-looking youth at his side, "Akatriel has a rather odd report from the last watch." Van frowned as he absorbed Tritoch's words. "Well, go on, boy."

"Ye-yes, sir," Akatriel stammered. It was clearly the first time he had ever spoken to the king.

"Speak, young Akatriel," Van said soothingly, "you've nothing to fear." He smiled reassuringly, but his mind became as unsettled and nervous as the juvenile who stood before him.

Akatriel swallowed, then continued. "My lord, it was early this day, close to an hour before dawn. It was still dark, and I saw clearly, across the sky, a column of white light." Van sprang to his feet, knocking his chair over with a clatter, his hands gripping the edge of the desk so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Milord," Akatriel continued, "it was the strangest thing, and seemed to – "

"But where was this?" Van's mind raced. It couldn't be, it couldn't be real….

"My lord, upon the platform where we watched. It seemed to touch down beyond the plains to the east."

"Tritoch! Send word to ready my steed!" Van commanded as he rushed from the room. The castle walls were nothing more than a blur as he raced towards the stables, his mind reeling. Nothing, he thought, it's nothing. There were few things more pathetic than setting oneself up for disappointment. It was lightning, or the guard's hallucination. But it was not, was not, what he hoped it was.

Badleh, the stable-hand, swiftly saddled his Majesty's steed, a tall gray beauty. He had scarcely finished making all the necessary adjustments when the king himself broke into the stable, looking more harried than ever. "My lord, she's ready," Badleh announced. "Anything else, sire?"

Van shook his head as he advanced towards the horse. "That's all, Badleh. Tell Sienn it's all his for the day." Without another word he leaped onto the horse and shot out of the stable.

Badleh sighed. Sienn, the king's most trusted advisor, was not going to be pleased. He walked towards the castle's instant communication system and rang Sienn's study. Within moments, he heard the gruff voice answer, "Yes, Badleh?"

"Sir, the king has just left the stables on Mara. He requested that I relay this message to you: It's all yours for the day." Badleh braced himself. Here it comes, he thought.

"What do you mean, 'It's all mine for the day'?" Sienn exploded.

Badleh winced. It never failed. "Sir, the king was in quite a hurry; when Tritoch sent notice to ready Mara, he made it clear that she was to be prepared immediately. I assume there's some pressing matter to which King Van must tend?"

"I suppose so," Sienn relented. "Thank you, Badleh." He released the button and exhaled noisily. Damn Van. It was just like him to go running off for some silly reason. Which, most likely, was what it was, a silly reason. Would Van ever learn to send an assistant in his stead? Sienn shook his head and returned to the paperwork in front of him.

By Hitomi's watch, it had been four hours. Four hours of walking, resting, walking, towards the castle in the distance. Now that the sun was climbing higher, it was proving to be quite hot inside her long sleeves and thick socks. Sweating, she paused for a moment to take in her surroundings once more. Intimidating mountains, in all directions, were bordered by thick forests. She shuddered at the thought of being alone in such woods. At least the light-beam had dropped her off on the prairie. If she wasn't mistaken, it was Fanelia, but she couldn't be sure. Her last glimpse of the kingdom six years back was that of a united people, determined to rebuild their lives from the ruins of their homeland.

She took off again, towards the castle, noticing a quickly moving figure ahead and to her left. She considered attracting its attention, then decided against it. If it wasn't Fanelia, who knew how the natives might treat her? No, she was better off on her own, at least until she reached the castle.

Van pushed his horse farther than he'd ever pushed her before. He tried not to think as they dashed across the plains. He simply concentrated on his riding, and on getting the most speed he could get out of Mara. While scanning the empty field, he noticed a figure to the northeast. Taking a chance, set off in its direction.

Hitomi felt her pulse quicken. Clearly, the rider was approaching her. She tried to stay calm, and kept walking straight ahead. If there was going to be a confrontation, she would handle it serenely as she could.

Within minutes, the rider was almost upon her. Sweating profusely in her autumn attire, Hitomi squared her shoulders and turned to face the rider.

Van hopped off his horse and led her by the reins. As he neared the person, he could see that it was a female. She had golden hair that fell just below her ears, fair skin, and was dressed for much cooler weather. As he got closer to her, her facial features became more distinguished: immense blue-green eyes; a slightly turned up, yet delicate, nose; that curious, frenzied look....

Van blinked. Before him stood a vision from the past: Hitomi.


The rider dismounted gracefully and led his horse by the reins. He approached her, and Hitomi could see that he was scrutinizing her face. This man, he resembled Van, but a much older Van. He appeared to be in his late thirties, forties, even. His face, scarred by small cuts and a few scratches, was beginning to look worn. His skin was a deep bronze, somewhat darker than Van's had been six years ago. His raven hair was speckled with gray; its tips brushed his earlobes. And those eyes, those intense wine-red eyes. She knew those eyes. Suddenly, her mind whirled, and she was overcome with anxiety.

Hitomi walked slowly towards him, filled with dread. The stranger shook his head, his face displaying a look of loss. He looked up at her, scanning her face. Something in his eyes made her stop short. No, please God, no....

Hitomi. And yet, not. Hitomi, but aged. Not as he had, not by a quarter of a century, but by several years. She was taller, and her body was that of a woman, not of the adolescent he remembered. The Hitomi who stood before him was a young woman in her twenties, he estimated.

She began to move toward him, slowly. Van shook his head in utter defeat. After all the years filled with hope and speculation, there was no disputing it now. His greatest fear was, in fact, a reality.

He looked into her eyes, over her face. She came to an abrupt halt. He inhaled....

"Hi-Hitomi."

Hello again, everyone. Yay, you're still reading this! Well, as you can tell, this little story of mine doesn't really follow a linear format. I'm constantly switching POV; if it gets too confusing, please let me know! Note: not all the chapters will be like these last two. Chapter 4 is a list of events, accompanied by a family tree; another chapter will likely be a series of journal entries by a seemingly minor character; another chapter (almost done!) is a look into the distant past.

I've never written a fic before, so I really appreciate any criticism you guys can dish out. Please let me know how this is coming from your POV!

Thank you! erin :)

ps. it is so hard for me to keep everyone in character. help! comments, suggestions, please?