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Chapter 2 ~ Questions

Van's look became pure steel. "What are you doing here?" he asked her. When Hitomi didn't answer, he lowered his voice. "Just what do you think that you're doing here, damn it??"

"I …I.…I came here…. because…" Hitomi stammered, trying to think how and why she came to Gaea.

"It's doesn't matter what she's doing here, she can help us, Lord Van. She can help us." Merle looked at him pleadingly.

"No, she should go back to her world. It's where she belongs. Go back home, Hitomi, you'll just get in the way if you stay here." Van said; his voice ice cold

Hitomi gasped and stepped back. What he was saying went like a knife through her heart. As much as she said she hated him, she knew that she could never really despise him. After all, he was Van, that boy, that boy who she loved for such a long time.

"Come on Hitomi, let's go inside and get you cleaned up." Merle said tugging at her arm.

Hitomi had to peal her eyes away from Van's cold gaze.

"Why? Why did she have to come back…?" Van said painfully silent as he watched her go to his castle. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a tiny ruby stone on a gold necklace. "How did that get in there?" he wondered.

"Why…"

~~~~

Hitomi looked upon the castle in wonder, "How long did it take to rebuild it?"

She looked at the tall structure. Fanelia's flags hanged from each and every tower. The castle was made of solid rock, and stood tall and imposing up on the grassy hill. Hitomi still couldn't believe that that the structure could have been renovated in such detail in only seven years. Every little tower, every passage, every room was carved in such detail, that it was breathtaking. Hitomi could see the hidden passages, and the hanging gardens, beautify the castle and give it a look of wilderness. It fit in with the landscaper perfectly, almost like it was a stony extension of nature. All sorts of plants hugged the walls and their different flowers made the castle look like a tapestry of legends. She could almost hear the footsteps of the old ghosts warmly haunting the place. Yet it wasn't a scary thing out of a horror movie. It was all so medieval. The walls were decorated with legends of dragons, and with praises of heroes. Hitomi smiled sadly. It was all so beautiful, yet she wasn't welcome to enjoy it.

"It took about 4 years to finish the castle, because Van never consistently worked on it. He was once extremely worried about his people, and he didn't want them to go through a winter without a warm place to stay."

"It's incredible!" Hitomi exclaimed.

"Van made sure that not a single person went through the winter without a place to stay. Even the orphans had a place to stay. He was so caring back then… We should hurry lunch will be served soon." Merle, lead Hitomi into the castle, bringing her to a guest room. "Hitomi, I'm so glad that you're back. I missed you." Merle said as she closed the door behind them, and her mood changed drastically. Merle continued. " However, I'm not the only one who missed you. It wasn't this bad three years ago. It was terrible, he woke up one morning looking exhausted and he was acting so cruel to everybody…even to me. His face didn't have any emotion on it, other than cold expression that you saw today, it hasn't changed since then." Merle sat beside Hitomi on the bed. "I don't know what to do Hitomi; he's turned it to a cold, hating person. I don't even think he cares about Fanelia anymore! Oh Hitomi! I don't know what to do!" Merle sobbed sitting down on the bed, her shoulders slouched with defeat and tiredness.

"Merle, I don't know what to say… or do…." Hitomi said trying to comfort Merle. She hugged her dear friend tightly. Merle looked defeated. Apparently, a lot of things had changed since she had last been on Gaea. A knock on the door interrupted them; a timid little servant-girl opened the door.

"Milady Merle, the bath is here for the Lady Hitomi." She said with a shiver in her voice.

"Thank you Silvia. That will be all." Merle said, replacing the frown on her face for a smile. "Hitomi, let's get you cleaned up, and we can talk about this later. I think that we might even have dresses that might fit you. We should get ready for the mid-day meal. I'll send in some servants to help you bathe."

"No thank you Merle, I would prefer to bathe alone."

"Ok, I'll see you in a bit." Merle closed the door after she left Hitomi to think and bathe by herself.

~~~~

Merle walked out of the room, only to bump into someone. "I'm sorry…" Merle said quickly, not seeing who it was.

"Watch where you're going cat girl." The woman sneered. The woman who was standing in front of her was Princess Morgan. Her looks were very bland, not hideous but also not exceedingly beautiful. She was much shorter than Van by almost a foot. The princess had long straight dark black hair that came down to the middle of her back and dark eyes, so dark that you couldn't really tell what color her eyes are. She had a long pointy nose with high check bones. She had too much make-up on her face, and long painted nails. In Merle's eyes she looked like a witch.

"I said I'm sorry, Lady Morgan." Merle hissed back.

"Get out of my way, I'm off to see My Lord Van. Where is he?" Morgan asked.

"He's out in the garden." Merle told her, knowing that Lord Van never visited to garden anymore.

Merle watched Morgan walked towards the garden with her nose up. "I hate her so much! Why does Lord Van have to have her, of all people in his castle?!" Merle muttered.

"Because, I like her. She's nice to and cares about me Merle, she's the only one who truly does."

"That's not true Lord Van! What about me, and your advisors, Allen, and the rest of your friends? What about Hitomi?"

"What about Hitomi?" Van jumped as if a snake bit him. "The rest of my so-called friends are only nice to me because I'm King. You don't count Merle." Van told her calming down a little.

"What do you mean? I know that Hitomi loves you!!! That witch who claims to love you, does only that, claims! Lord Van, please believe me!" Merle pleaded.

"Merle you're mistaken, Hitomi doesn't love me, maybe she once did, but I know that she doesn't anymore. And Merle, please don't call my fiancée a witch! Whether you like it or not, I'm marring her. She is your future queen and she deserves respect! I don't want to raise my hand against you Merle. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and fetch my fiancée." He said and walked away with hurried steps.

Merle watched Van walk towards the garden. She sighed and went to Hitomi's to see if she need help to put on her dress.

~~~~

As Hitomi, sat in the bath, she wondered how she got there. "Hmmm… I know that I didn't wish to come here, and I really don't think that Van would have wished me here after seeing his reaction when I did come here…but that angel I saw, I know that it was Van, but it wasn't the Van I saw today." Hitomi sank under the water to wash her hair. When Hitomi got out of the bath, water quietly sliding off her slender body, and falling with crisp sounds on the ceramic tiles there was a knock at the door.

"Hitomi, do you need help putting on your dress?" Merle's voice called from the other side of the door.

"Hold on just a minute Merle." She quickly put on her dress, and told Merle to come in. "I need help doing the laces up in the back."

Merle hastily did up the dress. "We're about to be late for lunch. Come on, let's go."

"Merle the castle is so beautiful, it looks like it did before it was burnt down. Have all the countries on Gaea been restored to how it was before the Great Destiny War?"

"Yes, everything has been repaired, and Fanelia has prospered as well. I can give you a tour of the gardens and the market if you'd like after the meal?"

"Yes, I'd like to do that." Hitomi said, as the guards opened the doors to the dining hall. Hitomi saw people already sitting down at the enormous table. There were portraits in gold frames lining the walls. Among those pictures there were pictures of Van, his parents, his brother, and other people that –Hitomi guessed- must be Van's ancestors.

Hitomi sat down beside Merle, who was sitting at the end of the table. There was an exceedingly large chair at the head of the table, where Hitomi knew that Van sat. Hitomi didn't want to make a scene, but sitting this close to Van, made her tense. The first words that came out of his mouth was: what are you doing here? She could tell this wasn't going to be a friendly visit. She hoped that she'd soon find a way off of Gaea. Hitomi was lost in her own thoughts when the guards announced that their Lord was entering.

"All rise, his Lord Van and his fiancée, Princess Morgan." The guards said. Van and his fiancée made their way to the head of the table, and Morgan sat across from Merle.

"Please be seated." Van said. "Let the meal be served." He said. Van was tired of all the formalities of mealtime; it happened three times a day and every day. Van looked at Hitomi, he saw that her eyes looked void, and her face was so pale, he couldn't possible know how she was feeling.

Hitomi couldn't believe it. He was going to get married. He actually had somebody else, to love…

"Hitomi?" Van said with a hint of concern in his voice.

Hitomi snapped out of her morbid thoughts, "Yes, I'm fine your Majesties. Congratulations on your betrothal, Van." She said cheerfully.

"Thank you so very much for your approval, Lady Hitomi –." Princess Morgan said arrogantly.

"My name is just Hitomi, I am not a lady here." Hitomi said just as arrogantly as the Princess had.

"Well, anyway I've heard so much of you from all the people of Fanelia, and of course other wonderful stories from Lady Merle. She is an amazing story teller." Morgan began.

"I bet she is." Van said under his breath, making sure that nobody heard him.

"So, Hitomi how long do you plan to stay?" Morgan continued. Van's and Merle's eyes shot up; Merle's eyes shooting daggers at the princess, and Van's looking intensely at Hitomi.

Hitomi's eyes stayed unemotional when she answered. "I really don't think that I am welcomed here very much, so I do not plan on over extending my stay."

"Please stay for the wedding, I would be so pleased if you would stay." Morgan asked smugly.

A servant interrupted them with a message for Van. Van was thankful for the pause. "Your majesty, I have just received word from Sir Allen Schezar he said that he must see you at once."

"Was there a reason why?" Van asked curiously.

"He said that he saw something familiar in the sky this afternoon."

"When will he be arriving?"

"They will be arriving later this day."

"They?"

"Sir Allen and his sister, Lady Celena is coming."

"Thank you." Van said and dismissed the servant. He guessed that they sent word by falcon or pigeon, and that they would be arriving by the Crusade. "I guess that Allen knows that you're here now." He said to Hitomi.

"Finally a friend I look forward to seeing. When will he be coming?" Hitomi asked pretending to be happy.

"Later tonight." Van answered sourly. He didn't like how happy Hitomi seemed when he mentioned Allen. Although she said "friend", for some reason it bothered him.

Lunch was served and over exceedingly fast. Hitomi wasn't asked very many questions through the remainder of lunch. Merle and Van saw that Princess Morgan wouldn't have a chance to speak to Hitomi very often.

After lunch Merle took Hitomi to the market to show her how beautiful Fanelia is. Some how Merle had convinced Hitomi that they should go shopping.

"Come on Hitomi, it'll be fun." Taking Hitomi's arm, Merle dragged her into a store near by.

"But I don't have any money." She protested.

"Don't worry, we'll be using royal money. Anyway like it would matter if we used a bit of it. The royal account has enough to go on a million shopping sprees. Come on, I think that we should get you some fabric, for some dresses, because you can't keep wearing the same dress forever. It'll be fun, please Hitomi." Merle pleaded, batting her eyes.

"Merle, please, I really don't…"

"Hitomi, don't make me use my claws, because I know that they hurt. Now your going whether you like it or not." Merle threatened. Hitomi gave in.

"Fine." Merle smiled and rushed to pick out fabrics for Hitomi. In the end, they had picked out about a dozen different fabrics some for Merle, but most were for Hitomi.

"We have some really great dress-makers in the castle, some of them even come from Asturia. They can make you several stunning dresses. It's shouldn't take them more than a quarter of an hour to have you sized, and then it shouldn't take them long to make your dresses." It had taken them hours to find all that they needed.

It was about five in the evening. Hitomi looked at the castle as they approached, she dreaded seeing Van and his wife to be, again. Princess Morgan seemed happy enough, and Van, well, I guess he looked happy. I can only hope that, by Van marrying Morgan she would make him happy.

"Hitomi, I'll be right back, I'm just going to bring all the fabric inside, and I'll be able to give you a tour of the gardens when I come back. Don't move." Merle said and rushed off. Hitomi sat down at a bench and waited for Merle to come back. Ten minutes passed and still, no sign of Merle.

Hitomi decided to wander for a couple of moments. After only seconds, she found herself lost. She wasn't in any sort of hedge-maze, but the garden itself was a maze to her. She came to a sudden halt when she saw Escaflowne still kneeling in the exact same spot that it was seven years ago. The only thing different about it was that there were thick vines covering it from head to toe.

"Hitomi?" called a deep voice, startling her.

Hitomi turned around to see Van standing there. He looked sad and puzzled.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for Merle to show me the garden, but she took to long, so I went off. But I got lost, and I ended up here…. Sorry to have disturbed you. I'll leave you alone." She turned and started to walk the other way.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so crude. Wait." He called out to her. She stopped and faced him. So he continued, "Merle gave you a tour of the market…what did you think of it?"

His question troubled her. Why would he care what she thinks? "Why do you want to know what I think? What does you princess think of it and your beautiful country?"

"At the moment, I don't care what she thinks of it. I want to know what you think of Fanelia."

"What you have done for the people of Fanelia honors them. Merle told me that you didn't let one child go through the first winter without shelter and a fire. That was very kind of you."

"Oh." Van said weakly. He hoped that he would get more of an answer from her, but her guessed that she was still mad at him. He was still mad at her. Wasn't he?

"Van, what do you want from me?" Hitomi asked with a sudden outburst of harshness.

Van ignored her question. "Why did you come back? After so long. Did you want to come back? Is there another war coming?" he asked her.

"I don't know why or how I came back…" Hitomi thought of what she was the last thing she saw on the mystic moon. "It was you who called me back to this world. You had your arms out and reaching for me. I came back because you called me. Now what do you want from me?" she asked madly, her voice raising a few notches in the process.

"I didn't call you back, why would I? I don't care about you anymore. I haven't for the past three years!"

"Good! Now I know that the feeling is mutual! I have to go back to the mystic moon, back to my fiancée! I don't want to be here anymore!" she said to Van. She knew that Remy wasn't her fiancée, but she said that to annoy Van and because she wanted to marry Remy…didn't she?

Van stumbled back. "You have a fiancée?" he asked hurt.

"You don't think that you're the only one who moved on! I'm leaving; I don't want to be around you. When Allen comes, I'm going back with him. I don't want to be in your way." She stalked off. Van stood there and sighed. He wanted to be alone to think of what Hitomi had said, but he heard someone coming.

"Hitomi? Where is that girl?" A soft woman voice called.

"Merle." Van said as he stood there, when she came into view.

"Lord Van, have you seen Hitomi?"

"No." he said then walked away.

~~~~

Hitomi sat her bed, not wanting to go down for the evening meal. She just wanted to stay hidden in her room, away from Van. There was a knock at her door.

"Hitomi, are you in there?"

"Yes, Merle, I'm here. Come in."

"Finally, I've been searching all over for you. Sorry I took so long to get back to the garden, I to organize some things for dinner." Merle said

"Oh." Hitomi said unenthusiastically.

"Anyway, here's another dress for tonight's dinner…" showing Hitomi a beautiful soft blue dress.

"I don't think I'm going."

"What? Why?" Merle asked surprised.

"I just don't feel like going, I don't feel like putting up with Van's crap tonight. I don't want to see him. I'm sorry Merle, I just can't go." Hitomi looked at her friend with pleading eyes.

"That's okay, I understand. I'll have people send food up here to you, so that you don't have to leave the room."

"Thank you Merle. You're a best friend."

~~~~

Everybody was already sitting at the table when Van and Princess Morgan came in. Van sat down and dinner began. Van looked up from his food to look beside Merle.

"Where's Hitomi?" he demanded of Merle.

"She wasn't feeling well and wanted to stay in her room. Her food is being brought up to her. Why do you ask Lord Van?"

"Because it's rude to miss and meal, if you are in the presence of a King and a princess." Morgan interrupted. Merle hissed, but before she could respond back,

Van interrupted. "If she's sick she should have told me. Continue with the meal." Van said as he stood up.

"But Lord Van, what about me?" The princess asked.

"You'll be fine. Stay here." Van stalked off, heading towards Hitomi's room.

When he was out in the hall, a servant approached him. "Lord Van, the guests have arrived."

"And?"

"They would like to see you right away."

"It can wait, bring them…"

"Van! It's good to see you again. There's something we have to talk about." A voice echoed behind him.

"Not right now Allen, I have somebody to deal with." Van said impatiently.

"Van, I think that Hitomi came back. I think she's here on the Gaia." Allen said. You could hear the excitement in his voice.

"I already know that she's here."

"What? Where is she? Is she here in the castle?" Allen asked stunned. Van was so emotionless. You'd think he'd be the last one to treat Hitomi's return with such indifference.

"Yes, now if you don't mind, I have to go. We can talk about this later."

"No Van, we need to talk about this now."

"Why?"

"Does she know that you're engaged?"

"Yes. She was as well. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go and talk to her."

"I'm coming with you." Allen said stubbornly.

"Stay out of this. You can talk to her later." Van said, losing his patience.

"Van wait!" Van took off towards Hitomi's room.

A/N: Hey U guys, thanks a lot for all the wonderful reviews.We know this looks bad now, but it shall get MUCH better. that much we promise you. Stay tuned for some BIG surprises. yes, lots of biggies going on here. hehe, we'll post three asap. hmm.. what else.... oh yeah, thanks a lot for all of the reivews. we hope to hear from everyone. Comments are greatly appreciated.This was written by Oki Mya, copyright of August 29 2001. We own the plot, and the dialogue if not the characters or escalfowne. all of those belong to the japanese company that made them. Thanks a lot for the support tho!!!!! R&R please!!!