The hall becomes quiet, Allen and Tayles stopping, all eyes turning to Van and Cosima.
"It hurts."
She looks down and sees blood flowing freely from the sword in her middle.
"It hurts."
Cosima slumps onto the sword, the life leaving her. Then, what looks like mist swirls around her. It is light gray in color like that of her once bright angle eyes. Coming to it as another mist this one is of pale blue. The two mists are twining together, joining. The mists shoot out together, plunging into Vans chest, pulling from him a third mist one of the deepest black, a dead black. Van slumps to the floor.
Tayles and Allen go to them, her to Cosima and he to Van. Van is recovering, but Cosima, she is dying.
Van cries in despair. "What have I done?"
Cosima no longer feels the pain, only joy. She is joined now with the spirit within her. He talks to her now, no longer having to whisper in her mind. I love you, Cosima, we will now be mated forever, you and I, before you leave this realm you must speak my name. Cosima opens her eyes, they are truly now the eyes of an angle, and speaks one last time.
"Folken." The final breath leaves her body and she is gone.
Van stares at Cosima, her last words, his brother's name.
Guards have arrived at the hall, but Allen is quick to get them back, before they can see anything.
"There are intruders in the Castle, go check all entrances, do not return till the castle is secure."
He turns back to Van and the others, helping his friend to his feet. Then what only could be described as magic, or the power of Atlantice manisifs in the hall with them. Folken appears and at his side is Cosima, they are not human, but spirits.
"Van, my brother, do not despair, Cosima was destined to join me as my mate, her death is only the beginning."
"But I am to blame for her death, I killed, just like I killed Hitomi by letting her leave."
Cosima smiles, "Van you did not kill me, Evil Spirit had completely taken over your body, it was he who killed me. Even as the sword entered my body, I could see his face, not yours."
Folken reaches out a hand as if to touch his brother. "Time has come for you to finish this chapter in your life and start a new one, it is time for you to be happy."
Again a mist begins to form, this one a beautiful green, then Hitomi appears.
"Van, it was never our destiny to be together, Dornkirk was an outside influence to this world, and it took an outside influence to defeat him. Our two worlds were never met to mix, and when it does happen, bad fates come into play. On your world when the body dies, the spirit moves on or becomes mated with a spirit seeker to quest. On my world there is a bright light that comes to take us to a new existence, one filled with family and friends. I am here because Evil Spirit is not of your world, but of mine. His body filled with pain and guilt when it lived and his soul filled with hate after death. He has prayed for centuries on victims on earth, and then he came here to Gaea. In the light he will heal, I have come to take him home."
Van is crying now, he loves Hitomi and she is leaving again. "No, I don't believe you."
Hitomi looks sad "I'm sorry but it is true. If I had not come to Gaea, you Van would have met Cherry Blossom on your own; she is the one you are destined to love. I have stayed on this plane to set things right for you and for her."
Hitomi moves over to Van and lightly kisses him on the mouth. It doesn't feel like a kiss, but he feels, the guilt and sorrow lifting from him. In that instant he knows, he loves Cherry Blossom.
The essence of Evil Spirit has been reduced to a small black orb. Held by Folken. He hands it to Hitomi.
"Thank you for all your help Folken, If not for your love for your brother all may have been lost. Cherry Blossom, use the cards given to your grandmother wisely, they can be dangerous. I need not tell you to love Van always, for I can see in your heart, and there is not doubt. I say goodbye now to you. Allen and Merle I am glad that I was also able to see you two one last time."
The green mist swirls again and Hitomi is gone.
Folken and Cosima have also vanished, Cosima's body no longer on the floor, only Van's sword laying where she had been.
Allen approaches Tayles, both have put their weapons away. Tayles once more has her cloak on and is moving to leave. Allen steps into her path.
"We have a fight to finish yet you and I."
"Our fight is done, my debt to Folken repaid, it is time for me to go."
"Leave now and we will never know who is better, stay and meet me in the practice room to take up where we left off, if your up to the challenge."
Allen isn't really Tayles type, but a challenge is a challenge, and he is one of the best in all of Gaea with a sword.
"Come on Merle, show me to a room and tomorrow you can watch this friend of yours be bested"
Van and Cherry Blossom are left alone. A few hours ago Van was ready to end his own life, and now he is looking forward to the rest of it. He walks up to Cherry Blossom, placing a hand on each of her shoulders and looking into her eyes.
"I am sorry for all that has happened to you. I will understand if you leave here never to return."
Cherry says nothing just looks up into those deep brown eyes. She reaches up and pulls his face down to hers and she kisses him. The kiss is short, but says without words exactly how she feels.
They hear it, is it the wind, or is it Hitomi wishing them well.
"You can't keep your love in a room, in a cage, in the dark, where only you can see it. Bring it out in the light and let the world feel its warmth."
Well that's it. I hope you enjoyed and will review. This is the first finished fic for me, but The Prophecies of Escaflowne is almost done, (but only partially posted here) and a new fic is in the works with co writers Dilandaus girl and Tayles (check out their works here at ff, they are both gifted writers). Till then, Thanx
Fanilia