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 characters therein. But you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and the course it takes.
Dediacation: Again, this goes to all the reviewers who take the time to say anything. Thanks!
Hitomi stared out the window, not really seeing the sunny day that lay beyond it. A sigh escaped her as she turned back to the empty room. It had take n her hours to convince everyone that she needed some time to herself. Allen had been hovering, worry clouding his blue eyes, ever since she'd first awakened. Millerna had soon arrived to ask what seemed like a million questions. How do you feel? Any dizziness? Have you been ill? Taking any medicine? Losing sleep? When was the last time you ate?
Hitomi knew they meant well, but everything they did seemed to grate on her nerves. All she wanted was some peace and quiet and time to think.
She was back on Gaea, the place that had turned her life upside down seven years ago. The last place she'd been truly happy. Nothing had seemed the same once she'd returned to Earth. It was as though everything was nothing more than a mere shadow of its former self. No flowers smelled as sweet as those that grew on Gaea. No fruit seemed as juicy, no sound as vibrant.
Back home at night, when she would stare at the sky, the stars seemed to twinkle a little less. And the moon looked so lonely hanging there all by itself. Hitomi had come to compare herself to that moon. They were both surrounded by millions of others, yet remained aloof, missing some part of themselves that they needed to seem complete.
And now she had returned to the place that had no such lonely sky. Where the moon had a partner to share the long, cold night with. She should be happy, or hopeful that she could be content here again. But she still felt empty inside. Cold and alone. Lost.
She'd seen the looks of pity in their eyes, hidden behind the worry and concern, but there all the same. It didn't take too much of an effort to picture how blatant that look would become once they learned of the accident. Most likely it would happen the same way it had back home. She would cease to be Hitomi, and would be "Poor Hitomi". They wouldn't bring it up in normal conversation but the whispers would always linger at the edge of her hearing. They'd start treating her as though she was made of glass, a useless figurine to be coddled and petted.
Her hand tightened into fist that she slammed into the softness of her pillow. She couldn't stand to watch that happen again. To have everyone around her treat her like she deserved to be protected when nothing could be farther from the truth.
What would they all say if they knew the truth? That she was nothing more than a coward who had taken the easy way out?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Some of her impatience colored her voice as she bade whomever it was to enter.
Allen poked his blonde head around the door, his smile fading a bit at her harsh tone. He made his way farther into the room, a loaded tray balanced between his hands. Setting the tray on a nearby table, he resumed his seat at her bedside.
"I brought you your lunch," he told her unnecessarily, looking at her strangely, as though he didn't know what to make of her attitude.
Hitomi looked at the food, then back at Allen. "Thanks, but I'm not really hungry. Maybe later," she added as a worried look crossed his face. She was really not in the mood to deal with a guy stuck in protective older brother mode. The sooner she managed to get rid of him, the better off she would be.
He leaned forward in his chair and Hitomi knew he was about to start asking questions she wouldn't want to answer. Stretching her arms above her head, she quickly faked a yawn. She forced a small smile as she apologized.
"I must be more tired than I thought. Maybe I should take a nap. I'll probably have more of an appetite when I wake up." That said, Hitomi slid beneath the covers, pointedly turning her back to a startled Allen. She heard the faint creaks of the chair as Allen got to his feet.
"I, uh, guess I'll speak with you later, then." he said, confusion strong in his voice. Moments later, the door clicked shut behind him.
Allen, Millerna, and Dryden had gathered in the caste's library. Dusty tomes filled shelf after shelf to overflowing, making the massive room seem smaller and darker. Small tables surrounded by groupings of chairs filled the floor space, inviting one to sit and read for awhile. However they group had another reason for being there. Millerna sat at her desk, several large tomes spread open before her. She flipped a few pages, then sighed and shook her head. Looking up, she addressed her husband and a pacing Allen.
"Physically, I know exactly what's wrong with her. She needs to eat, to sleep, and to spend some time in the fresh air. She's too thin, too tired, and too weak. But there's something else going on, more than just her being ill from the night outside."
"What do you mean?" Allen asked, abruptly ceasing his restless pacing. Dryden turned to look at Millerna, a questioning expression on his face.
"The state she's in, the thinness, the weakness . . . it's not something that could have happened overnight. Remember what Hitomi used to be like? So energetic and healthy. Always talking about her races, and staying in shape. She took great care of herself. Good enough care that this couldn't have just happened to her. She had to know what she was doing to herself.
"And then there's her attitude. She nothing like the Hitomi I remember. I understand that people change over time, and that life where she comes from is a lot different than life here. But this type of complete turnaround . . . I don't know what happened!" Millerna cried, sounding confused and exasperated.
"I know exactly what you mean," Allen stated quietly. "When I'm around her, it seems like she's barely tolerating my presence. I know it's been a long time since we've seen her, but I would have expected Hitomi to have at least been friendly."
Dryden spoke up for the first time. "I freely admit that the two of you knew Hitomi much better than I did. But even I can see that she's changed drastically. And when a person changes that much, there's usually a reason for it. I think we need to find out what that reason is."
A loud commotion in the hallway cut him off. The three occupants of the room had just turned to the door when it was banged open. A travel worn Van Fanel stood there, breathing hard and looking tormented. Into the sudden silence, his two words sounded harsh and pained.
"Where's Hitomi?"
* * * *
A/N: This time, they were in the same chapter. Next time, they'll speak to each other! I swear. I'm writing it right now; I only stopped to type this part up and post it. Hopefully I'll be able to put that part up in the next couple of days. And I think this was my longest part yet, though the next one may be longer. Once I get Hitomi and Van talking, who knows what'll happen! Please review!
Author: Ashley
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Couple: V/H, of course
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or any of the characters therein. But you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and the course it takes.
Dediacation: Again, this goes to all the reviewers who take the time to say anything. Thanks!
Hitomi stared out the window, not really seeing the sunny day that lay beyond it. A sigh escaped her as she turned back to the empty room. It had take n her hours to convince everyone that she needed some time to herself. Allen had been hovering, worry clouding his blue eyes, ever since she'd first awakened. Millerna had soon arrived to ask what seemed like a million questions. How do you feel? Any dizziness? Have you been ill? Taking any medicine? Losing sleep? When was the last time you ate?
Hitomi knew they meant well, but everything they did seemed to grate on her nerves. All she wanted was some peace and quiet and time to think.
She was back on Gaea, the place that had turned her life upside down seven years ago. The last place she'd been truly happy. Nothing had seemed the same once she'd returned to Earth. It was as though everything was nothing more than a mere shadow of its former self. No flowers smelled as sweet as those that grew on Gaea. No fruit seemed as juicy, no sound as vibrant.
Back home at night, when she would stare at the sky, the stars seemed to twinkle a little less. And the moon looked so lonely hanging there all by itself. Hitomi had come to compare herself to that moon. They were both surrounded by millions of others, yet remained aloof, missing some part of themselves that they needed to seem complete.
And now she had returned to the place that had no such lonely sky. Where the moon had a partner to share the long, cold night with. She should be happy, or hopeful that she could be content here again. But she still felt empty inside. Cold and alone. Lost.
She'd seen the looks of pity in their eyes, hidden behind the worry and concern, but there all the same. It didn't take too much of an effort to picture how blatant that look would become once they learned of the accident. Most likely it would happen the same way it had back home. She would cease to be Hitomi, and would be "Poor Hitomi". They wouldn't bring it up in normal conversation but the whispers would always linger at the edge of her hearing. They'd start treating her as though she was made of glass, a useless figurine to be coddled and petted.
Her hand tightened into fist that she slammed into the softness of her pillow. She couldn't stand to watch that happen again. To have everyone around her treat her like she deserved to be protected when nothing could be farther from the truth.
What would they all say if they knew the truth? That she was nothing more than a coward who had taken the easy way out?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Some of her impatience colored her voice as she bade whomever it was to enter.
Allen poked his blonde head around the door, his smile fading a bit at her harsh tone. He made his way farther into the room, a loaded tray balanced between his hands. Setting the tray on a nearby table, he resumed his seat at her bedside.
"I brought you your lunch," he told her unnecessarily, looking at her strangely, as though he didn't know what to make of her attitude.
Hitomi looked at the food, then back at Allen. "Thanks, but I'm not really hungry. Maybe later," she added as a worried look crossed his face. She was really not in the mood to deal with a guy stuck in protective older brother mode. The sooner she managed to get rid of him, the better off she would be.
He leaned forward in his chair and Hitomi knew he was about to start asking questions she wouldn't want to answer. Stretching her arms above her head, she quickly faked a yawn. She forced a small smile as she apologized.
"I must be more tired than I thought. Maybe I should take a nap. I'll probably have more of an appetite when I wake up." That said, Hitomi slid beneath the covers, pointedly turning her back to a startled Allen. She heard the faint creaks of the chair as Allen got to his feet.
"I, uh, guess I'll speak with you later, then." he said, confusion strong in his voice. Moments later, the door clicked shut behind him.
Allen, Millerna, and Dryden had gathered in the caste's library. Dusty tomes filled shelf after shelf to overflowing, making the massive room seem smaller and darker. Small tables surrounded by groupings of chairs filled the floor space, inviting one to sit and read for awhile. However they group had another reason for being there. Millerna sat at her desk, several large tomes spread open before her. She flipped a few pages, then sighed and shook her head. Looking up, she addressed her husband and a pacing Allen.
"Physically, I know exactly what's wrong with her. She needs to eat, to sleep, and to spend some time in the fresh air. She's too thin, too tired, and too weak. But there's something else going on, more than just her being ill from the night outside."
"What do you mean?" Allen asked, abruptly ceasing his restless pacing. Dryden turned to look at Millerna, a questioning expression on his face.
"The state she's in, the thinness, the weakness . . . it's not something that could have happened overnight. Remember what Hitomi used to be like? So energetic and healthy. Always talking about her races, and staying in shape. She took great care of herself. Good enough care that this couldn't have just happened to her. She had to know what she was doing to herself.
"And then there's her attitude. She nothing like the Hitomi I remember. I understand that people change over time, and that life where she comes from is a lot different than life here. But this type of complete turnaround . . . I don't know what happened!" Millerna cried, sounding confused and exasperated.
"I know exactly what you mean," Allen stated quietly. "When I'm around her, it seems like she's barely tolerating my presence. I know it's been a long time since we've seen her, but I would have expected Hitomi to have at least been friendly."
Dryden spoke up for the first time. "I freely admit that the two of you knew Hitomi much better than I did. But even I can see that she's changed drastically. And when a person changes that much, there's usually a reason for it. I think we need to find out what that reason is."
A loud commotion in the hallway cut him off. The three occupants of the room had just turned to the door when it was banged open. A travel worn Van Fanel stood there, breathing hard and looking tormented. Into the sudden silence, his two words sounded harsh and pained.
"Where's Hitomi?"
* * * *
A/N: This time, they were in the same chapter. Next time, they'll speak to each other! I swear. I'm writing it right now; I only stopped to type this part up and post it. Hopefully I'll be able to put that part up in the next couple of days. And I think this was my longest part yet, though the next one may be longer. Once I get Hitomi and Van talking, who knows what'll happen! Please review!
