Title: Angel Watching Over Me
Author: Ashley
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Couple: V/H, of course
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the character therein. But you knew that.


Hitomi Kanzaki sighed as she stared out the window at the night sky. She tried to focus on the pinpoints of brightness as a pounding headache joined the burning throb in her lower back. Resting her forehead against the cool glass, she sighed again, feeling much older than her twenty-two years.

Her gaze drifted to the brown prescription bottle that rested on the small kitchen table. If she took two, the pain would be gone, and maybe she could get some sleep. But she hated the way they made her feel, all cottony and heavy at the same time. It became a game with her to see how long she could resist before the pain brought her down.

Hitomi returned her attention to the stars. It was a beautiful night, bright and clear. Not so long ago nights like this, when the moon was full and glowing, she would slip outside to run. The night breezes would drift over her skin as memories floated through her mind, light and airy as feathers. And for awhile, her soul would feel at peace.

But that was before the accident, when she'd still thought of herself as a strong person. Now she felt lucky to hobble through her little apartment without falling down or knocking something over. Or she would feel lucky if she could feel anything at all.

She twisted slightly, trying to ease the sharp pains in her back, but they were there to stay. She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. So what if she was in pain? Who cared that everyone that she'd ever cared about had abandoned her?

Hitomi's breath came in harsh gasps as she fought herself. The answer was always the same.

No one. She was alone, as she deserved to be.

With an angry sob, she reached for the pills.


A/N: This part is short because the next part is long. I couldn't combine them, and quite frankly, I think it's more dramatic this way. But it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what you think. So R/R!!