Title: Angel Watching Over Me
Author: Ashley
Pairing: V/H, of course
Rating: PG, mostly for implied angst
Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, but you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and the twists the plot takes.

I know this part took longer than usual. Right after I posted the last part, my computer went screwy and had to be rebooted. So I lost everything. And today is the first time I've been able to be back online. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last part, and for sticking around for this part.



CHAPTER ELEVEN
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"Hitomi, you matter to me in a way that nothing else does. Anything you have to say, I'll listen to. I'm here, and I'll always be here." Hitomi closed her eyes against the sudden prick of tears. He sounded so warm and sincere. Like he really cared. She wanted to wrap his words around her like a cloak, as though they would shield her from ever being alone again. She'd been on her own for so long now. It would be so easy to just let someone else handle everything so she could rest. Van would take care of her. He would keep her safe.

Or would he, a little voice insisted on asking. How long would he stick to his word? How long before he grew to resent the burden and she was left to pick up the pieces of her life once more?

Hitomi hardened her heart as she tried to ignore the way his words had made her feel. She couldn't risk trusting him when he'd let her down before. Deliberately she called up the memories of that time, remembering the awful physical pain and the even worse emotional pain.

Pulling her hands from his, she gave him her iciest glare. She wasn't going to let a few pretty words make her forget seven years of heartache.

"You'll be there? When I'm hurting and sad? Or when I just need someone to talk to? Someone to let me know that I'm not alone." She laughed bitterly. "I believed that once. That if I were ever to find myself in any sort of trouble, you'd be there. Somehow you would know, and you'd come running to the rescue. And you would make everything all right. I was such a fool. Because the worst happened, Van. I needed you, and you weren't there. I was left to wonder if you didn't know, or didn't care

"So this little speech of yours is all well and good, but it's too late. Years too late." She looked at him, sadness mingling with anger in her eyes. "I think you should leave now." she said dismissively, jerking her gaze from his.

Van sat silently, taking in the tears that dotted her lower lashes. She wasn't as uninvolved as she tried to appear. It was obvious she felt something for him, otherwise she wouldn't be so emotional. But what had happened? In his mind, her words swirled endlessly, repeating themselves again and again. "The worst happened . . . you weren't there . . . years too late . . ." He had to find out what happened if he had any chance of fixing the rift between them.

"Tell me, Hitomi. Tell me what happened to you," he pleaded, hoping against hope that she would give him that much.

"What does it matter? Your knowing won't make it better. You can't change the past, no matter how much you may want to." The tears slipped down her cheeks, and she took a halfhearted swipe at them. "What's done is done. We're done. Just . . . go."

"Hitomi . . . " Van began, feeling helpless and not liking it one bit.

"Leave!" she yelled, flinging an arm towards the door. "I don't want you here. Not now, and not ever again! Do you understand?" When Van didn't move, she got to her feet, every move and gesture seething with anger.

"I am not leaving until you tell me what's wrong." Van's words were strong and clear. He stood to face her, feet spread apart, arms crossed over his chest.

Hitomi felt her anger begin to crumble. If he didn't leave within the next thirty seconds, she was going to cry. Every moment spent with him brought back memories, good memories of happier times. Memories of trust and friendship, and the thought of having those things again was always there in her mind. But if she told him, it wouldn't be the same. It never was. Everybody changed once they knew about the accident, and Van would be no different. He would stay with her, pretend to care because it was the right thing to do. But as the days past, he would see her as nothing more than a burden he'd been forced to deal with. It would kill her to see him look at her like that.

"Why are you doing this to me?" she asked, her voice hoarse and raw with unspoken pain. "Why can't you just go sooner rather than later? Before I begin to depend on you again."

"What's so bad about depending on me?" Van questioned, not giving up without a fight. "Why can't you trust me to be there when it counts?"

"Because you'll leave! Like everyone else left! I can't do that again, Van. I can't take that anymore."

Her shouted words still vibrating in the air, Hitomi whirled on her heels and started to stalk away. But the thick coverlet dragged on the ground, tripping her up. With a yelp of surprise, she started to fall. Moving without thought, Van darted forward, pulling her into his arms. Twisting around to take the brunt of the fall, he landed on the floor, Hitomi sprawled across his lap.

As he looked into the startled eyes inches away, he saw something swimming in the green depths. It was like a small scene was reflected there, though he knew there was nothing behind him. As he watched, a haze of pink misted the edges of his sight, slowly moving inward until all that was left was that small scene. A small scene that wasn't so small anymore. Everything was growing larger, unfolding before his surprised eyes.



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A/N: Okay, I know that seemed a little abrupt, but remember, this was supposed to be the ending for Chapter Ten. Please R/R!