Power of Emotions
by: Angel Wings Rinoa (Cathy-chan)

Chapter 3: The Blue Planet

Atop a high-rise building in Tokyo, Japan stood a man wearing black. The feathers on his wings swayed as the breeze passed them. His bright red eyes scanned the surroundings. On his out-reached hands was a white stone. The stone is not glowing. She is not here, he thought. That young king must be with her. When I find him, I will find the Key. With a swift movement of his navy wings, the man dove down from the building and glided through the air.

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"I wonder how this one will look on you." Hitomi looked at the white, shiny shirt and pondered for a while if it would suit Van. She giggled and shook her head. "Nah!"
Van leaned on a stand and watched while Hitomi asked the clerk about other shirts. She insisted that swords were not needed for walking around Shibuya, but he still felt uncomfortable without it. "Tell me again why we're doing this."
"You can't expect to walk around with the clothes you're wearing without getting noticed, do you? It's going to be winter soon and it'll get colder."
"I feel much better with my own clothes."
"Don't worry, Van, I won't make you wear anything weird." Hitomi took Van to other stores and crowded streets, while stopping once and a while to explain why and how things work in Earth. "We're in a city called Tokyo right
now. This is an area where there's lots of buildings and recreational stuff to do. Later on," She felt silly sounding like a tour guide, but she thought he looked so confused about the industrial, unfamiliar wonders around Earth.
Van watched while a stream of people walked to different directions. Some of them wearing purely black and white as they carry black, rectangular objects. Others wore strange, clothes (some are colourful) while they giggled and talked. "All of them are human?" he asked.
"That's right. There aren't any feline humans or wolfmen around here, either. No guymelefs or airships with floating stones here either. Just a lot of cars, people and a few airplanes. Japan's a very populated area." She looked at her wristwatch; Yukari was fortunate enough get a small break from her college and part-time job. Earlier, she called Hitomi and invited her for lunch at a fast food restaurant. Yukari's going to see me and Van here. What a strange coincidence. Well...now she'll know who I was talking about. Now Hitomi knew why she was feeling dazed and unfocused on anything else but Van. She had been overwhelmingly glad to see him. She was glad to see him walking with her, having a conversation with her and, in a way, she was also glad he was going to meet her best friend.
After a few more hours of walking around a mall, Hitomi took Van to a small McDonald's restaurant to wait for Yukari. She didn't noticed it before, but when they finally had the time to sit down, she realized that other people were staring at him. Does
he really look that suspicious? she wondered. The strangest part that really caught her attention was that most of the onlookers were teenage girls. Or maybe he really is that handsome...He does have a kind of face you can stare at for hours. Like the teenage girls, she also caught herself staring when she saw Van staring back.
"What is it?" he asked.
"N-Nothing!" Hitomi felt her cheeks turn tomato red. "...It's just...you...look so different from when I first met you."
"...You look different too," he answered with a little smile. She suddenly felt absurd about how she thought. For a moment, she thought his answer sounded like "...You look beautiful," by the tone of his voice, but she was certain that cannot be. Van!?
Saying that!? I really am crazy! "Yukari should be arriving any minute. She's going to like meeting you," Hitomi said to avert her thoughts to something less provocative.
Van noticed Hitomi's gaze falling downward to her bag on the table. Her fingers started fidgeting the clasp on the belt. He could tell that she was suddenly feeling uneasy. After a few minutes, he noticed a girl with long, reddish-brown hair dart behind Hitomi. She made a soft giggle and yelled out, "Hitomi!!"
"Waah!!" Hitomi jumped out of her seat, then turned quickly around. "Yukari! Don't scare me like that!" She gave her friend a humorous slap on the arm as she started laughing with her.
Yukari excitedly shifted her stare from Van to Hitomi and back. By the way Hitomi's companion looked back at her with a puzzled face, Yukari thought he seemed like a foreigner; or --as Hitomi explained earlier-- from a different planet. "So this is Van! Wow! Are you really from another world?" she blurted out. She continued talking before Van could reply. "I can't believe it! Hitomi's told me all about you. How did you get here, anyway? Did you come here by that strange light? You have Hitomi's pendant too, right?....Hmmm, you don't look anything like Hitomi's type of guys."
The last comment made Hitomi pinch her ecstatic friend on the arm.
"Ow!! It's true! He doesn't. I was thinking you like tall guys with long, blonde hair more. But I gotta admit, he's very cute!"
Hitomi's cheeks turned pink. "If only you knew..." she muttered to herself while thinking of the short, but strong infatuation she had with Allen Schezar.
Without warning, Van stood up and approached the window looking out on the city. They were being watched. His eyes searched for the dark figure he saw moments ago. It wasn't below nor in front of them. But when he quickly examined the sky, he saw the blurry shadow flash by once again.
"What's wrong?" Hitomi asked him.
"Someone's watching..." He snatched Hitomi's hand. "Come on!" He pushed his way through the crowded mall. They stopped in a narrow gap between two buildings. He looked up again. The dark figure was nowhere in sight, but he was certain it hadn't left.
"It must be him," said Van.
"Who?"
"That man who attacked Fanelia."
"He's here!? How?"
"I don't know. He had wings when I last saw him. He's up there somewhere." Van knew he would not stand a chance against him if he's only armed with bare fists. The only choice was to hide or flee from the enemy's reach.
"Hitomi!" Yukari yelled to her friend as she ran. "What is going on? Why did you guys leave like that all of a sudden?"
Neither Van nor Hitomi gave an answer. A strong premonition came over Hitomi; she was certain it was another prediction. In her mind she saw a dark shadow directly above them. The shadow increased in size as it got closer to them. Something bad's going to happen! I can't let Yukari or anyone else get involved in this, she thought.
"Yukari, listen to me! Get away from here as fast as you can!" Hitomi warned.
"W-What? But why...? What in the world is going on!?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't explain. You'll get involved if you stay."
Again, Van saw the blurry figure dash by quickly. This time, it was dangerously close. If only I had my sword here we could stand a chance against him! Van thought angrily. He examined their surroundings. The streets were too crowded for them to flee quickly. Hiding themselves into the crowd of people won't help either because that would put innocent people in danger.
"Van...he's getting closer. I can feel his presence," Hitomi said as she took Yukari's arm. "Go now while you still can, Yukari."
"I'm going to stay by your side. I don't know what's going on, but it seems like you need some help!" Yukari said.
Van stood in front of the two girls as a gush of wind suddenly surrounded them. The source of the wind were a pair of strong, dark blue wings plunged towards the three. The enemy showed no expression on his face as his feet touched the ground.
Hitomi took a step back; she felt the man's sinister eyes bore into her. Despite the strong fear in her heart that warned her of him, she still felt remorse for the man clad in black. She didn't know why his red eyes still reflected a sadness like no other within him. Even as he appeared domineeringly in front of them, her heart ached as she watched his
eyes.
"I have been looking for you," the enemy said.
"...Who are you?" Hitomi asked with a quavering voice.
"If you wish to call me by a name, it is Blayde." He took a few steps closer. "And you are The Key I've been searching for."
"The...Key...? Why...Why have you been searching for me?"
"You impede the plans." Blayde lifted his hands forward. With a blinding light, two jagged swords appeared on them. "There must be no interference."
Plans...? Hitomi felt Yukari grip on her sleeve tightly as Blayde approached them. Van showed no fear while Blayde's swords glowed brutally.
"Why are you resisting? You cannot run from me, nor can you defend yourselves."
"What plans? Please, there must be some other way than this."
"Hitomi! You can't be trying to compromise with this lunatic, are you?" Yukari nervously whispered to her.
Hitomi heard her friend, but gave no reply. She even heard a conscience in her mind trying to convince her about the insanity in her words. Even so, she still felt the urge to try and help Blayde.
Van, however, was not swayed by any single thought of sympathy for the enemy. Kill or be killed. That was the only kind of logic he plans on using at their critical situation. Any fool could tell what chance of survival Van had against Blayde's two, jagged swords. In spite of that he didn't stand down.
Meanwhile, other people were starting to notice Blayde's strange attire and weapons. Some stared at him close by while others glanced to his direction. Blayde showed no emotion. He stayed watchful at the three.
"What is this plan? Isn't there any way we can solve this without fighting?" Hitomi spoke up. Van and Yukari were both shocked that Hitomi still wanted to help a man who obviously wanted to kill them. She noticed a small, but apparent glance of curiosity from the strange, young man.
Blayde's eyes didn't left them as he reached into a pouch attached to his belt. Just like before, he held the glowing, white stone on his hand. This time he was using it on Hitomi instead of the pendant from Atlantis. Gradually the glow on the pendant
diminished; just like the pendant Hitomi wasn't the one he was looking for.
"You are not The Key either," he said monotonously. Swiftly, he turned around. A bright light surrounded him as his wings appeared. With the light, Blayde vanished.
All three of them stood there for a moment staring at the blank space where he had
vanished. What was that!? Yukari thought, puzzled. Her friend didn't seem as confused as her. Hitomi's green eyes were distant in thought.
"...Hello?" Yukari waved her hand in front of Hitomi's face.
No reply.
Yukari walked over to Van and whispered, "Hey, do you know what's going on with Hitomi?"
Van shook his head. Even he couldn't tell what was on her mind.
I need to know about him. He seemed sad somehow. I wonder what's so special about this Key he's talking about. Just then, quick flashes of images appeared in her mind. The space around her began to distort, blur and swirl in different directions. They didn't stop until everything turned into darkness. The noises of the people and the streets faded away into different sounds. The strange things she heard then were disturbing--strange noises that were so frightening, it made Hitomi's spine crawl. She warily opened her eyes. Again, she found herself in a different place. This time, she was atop a high cliff overlooking another demolished kingdom in Gaia. She recognized the strange noises she heard earlier as painful screams from the kingdom below.
"...What is this?" She covered her ears. The more she tried to block out the noises, the louder it became. "Does this have something to do with Blayde...and me?"
Yes.
Hitomi's eyes scanned the area. No one was around, but she swore she heard a reply. "Who's there?"
You must help them, Hitomi.
Your destiny is still pointing towards Gaia.
Don't let them suffer like this.
There were two, distant voices calling out to her. They both sounded very familiar. A sphere of light descended in front of Hitomi. In the center of the light were two silhouetted figures. One of them had wings, the other held a pinwheel.
Hitomi...
One of the figures came forward, and at last, Hitomi could see the woman's face. "...Grandmother? Is that you?"
The apparition of Hitomi's grandmother showed no smile upon her face. Droplets of tears hovered around her. The beautifully, decorated kimono she once wore was now dark and faded.
The one with wings also hovered forward. Like Hitomi's grandmother, she was also crying. Her clothes were as dark as her sorrow.
"You're...Van's mother..."
Don't let them destroy The Key.
"What is The Key!? What's so special about it?"
Go back, child. Back to the world of war...
The two figures quickly evanesced. Nothing was left. Not even the destroyed kingdom or the cliff. Darkness was all that surrounded her until her eyes opened back to reality. Van and Yukari were both kneeling beside her as she lay on the ground.
"Are you all right?" Van asked.
Slowly Hitomi raised herself on her knees.
"Thank goodness you're okay!" Yukari exclaimed. "I was so worried!"
Yukari's words didn't comfort the feelings of confusion and dejection lurking inside Hitomi's heart. She was certain that she saw her grandmother and the queen of Fanelia in her vision. There were no more doubts of the future that lay ahead for Gaia, and the people she knew and loved there.
"Van...We have to go back to Gaia."
Van paused for a moment in shock. "What...?"
Yukari gasped and said, "Gaia!? You can't be serious!"
"But I am. I have to go back."
"You'll be in danger there! I can't let you do that," Van protested.
"Van," Hitomi raised her eyes to his. "I've been wanting to tell you...no! Warn you of something that might happen to you in the future!....You might get killed, Van! I saw a vision where Fanelia got destroyed and..." Hitomi closed her eyes. The images in her mind started forming, making it hard for her to finish her warning.
"Fanelia did get attacked, but--"
"It's a different one! It's going to happen if the enemy isn't stopped."
"Hitomi, we're lucky that guy let us go alive! Don't be thinking about leaving and going to a dangerous place again!" Yukari told her.
"I'm sorry, Yukari, but my grandmother told me to help them."
"Your grandmother!?" Yukari yelled in shock.
Hitomi nodded, then stood up. "I've made up my mind. I'm going!"
"Hitomi, you're staying here," Van seriously said to her.
"I don't care what either of you say to me. I'm going whether you like it or not."
Van was lost for words. He knew that danger had the tendency to follow Hitomi --or vice versa-- but she had clearly decided to help despite that fact that she would be risking her life. "There's no way I will let you put yourself in danger like this," he said.
"Don't worry. This is my own decision. I need to know about The Key and the guy who attacked us earlier." She paused and said, "...Your mother was in my vision too, Van. It must be something really important if I'm seeing her and my grandmother again."
"I guess you're right, but..."
Hitomi smiled softly and surprised Van by touching his face. "I'll be just fine."
Yukari sighed and said, "You know...your mother's going to be awfully worried about you if she ever finds out."
"I know...I'll have to tell her the truth eventually," Hitomi said.
Yukari gave her a pat on the shoulder, "Well...I can't let you do that on your own again!"
"Huh!?"
"To tell you the truth, I've been so curious to where you were when you disappeared. I've been wanting to see what you were up to, and to see for myself about the strange story you told me so..."
Hitomi's eyes were wide open, "You...can't be thinking of..."
"Yup! That's right."
"No! You can't! This isn't just some simple trip, Yukari. This is for real!"
"Course I know that, silly! But I still want to go. It sounds like this world is in really bad trouble, and you seem eager to help them so much. I want to know why. That's why I'm going with you."
"Yukari..." Great...Now I know how Van feels right about now, she thought. I can't put her in danger because of me, but she seemed willing to go no matter what. I can't argue with her all day. I'm wasting time as I stand here. "I guess you can go...but don't say I didn't warn you."
"Okay!"
Van scowled and crossed his arms. She hasn't changed a bit, he thought. As always I can't convince her to stay away from harm. Somehow he knew that Hitomi coming back to Gaia with him was inevitable. Nonetheless, he planned to make sure they won't get harmed. He was still frowning as he said, "...We can go back there with Escaflowne. It's not far from here."
"Okay. Thank you, Van," Hitomi responded. "Are you sure about this, Yukari?"
"Absolutely! I bet Amano's not going to find out about it anyway. He'll just think I'm busy with college work or something."

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Together with Yukari, Hitomi quietly crept into her house to gather a few needed belongings. Deep inside she wanted to tell her mother and father where she was going, but if she did, they certainly won't let her leave. Before packing her duffel bag with clothes, she wrote a letter to her parents, and taped it on a wall on top of her desk. It read:

To Mom and Dad,

If you're reading this, that means you know I'm
missing. I'm not really missing and I'll be fine. I'm sorry I
haven't told you about it. I know you would've done
everything to keep me away, but I have to go. I can't really
explain to you where I'm going, but all I can say is
grandmother went there too. Don't worry about me. This is
something I need to take care of.

Hitomi


"Lets go, Hitomi," Yukari called to her.
"Someday I'll tell you about Gaia. Mom,...Dad," she whispered to the letter.
Quietly the two girls climbed down a tree. Van told them to meet him inside a forest not far from the street Hitomi lived in. When they got there, Yukari shouted out in astonishment, "That's Escaflowne!?!"
"Sssshhh! Someone might here us," Hitomi said.
"Wuh...What is it again?" she asked in a meek voice.
"It's called a guymelef," Van answered.
"It looks like a dragon!" While Yukari was still ogling at the magnificent armor in awe, Hitomi pulled her to the top of the guymelef.
The wings of Escaflowne began to move, and they were lifted to the air above the small town. While placing the pendant onto his palm, Van concentrated his thoughts to his homeland. A pillar of light came unto them. The light took them to the world of Gaia. Tatakai no sekai e (To a world of war).

To be continued...

Author's Note: Finally!! I'm very sorry it took me such a long time to finish the third chapter. You gotta hate it when writer's block appears in your head. And that's right! The mysterious enemy finally has a name. I thought it might be interesting if Yukari went with them to Gaia. Of course, that also had to make sense. Literally, "tatakai no sekai" is
translated as "world of fighting", but I think in the English version they translated it as "world of war". I have no idea why I chose McDonald's but I'm sure they have that fast food restaurant in Japan too. Shibuya is a small part in Japan where there's malls and stores, I've heard. In the Japanese version --after Hitomi, Van and Merle escaped from
Asturia-- Hitomi dreams of being with Allen in Shibuya. (And yeah, they cut almost every part of that and the song "Tomodachi" in the English version.)