Escaflowne of the Sky

Cynic X

"..."- dialogue

'...'- thoughts

..... - scene change

Chapter 9- Revelations

"Hitomi!"

"Hitomi wake up!" A voice called as it pounded on her door.

"W...what?" Hitomi muttered as she jolted up in bed. She rubbed her eyes as the knock sounded again.

"Get up Hitomi!"

'I know that voice...' Hitomi thought as she staggered over to her bedroom door. She opened it to see a very angry cat girl outside.

"What took you so long Hitomi?" Merle asked, her tail standing up straight behind her.

"M...merle what are you doing here?" Hitomi asked glad to see her friend.

"I heard that Lord Van was here, so I came as fast as I could. Here...I think this belongs to you." Merle said, as she trusted Hitomi's duffel bag at her.

"Merle! That hurt!" Hitomi cried as she stumbled bad to regain her balance from the impact of the bag.

"How rude you are! You don't even say thank you." Merle cried clenching her hands into fists.

"I'm sorry Merle. Thank You." Hitomi said happily. She placed her bag on the floor and gave her friend a hug. "I'm glad to see that you're okay."

"You too. I heard what happened...that Zaiback captured you guys. I was so worried that something had happened." Merle said softly.

"Everything is fine now. Nothing happened." Hitomi said with a smile.

"I know...but you are going to pay for making me worry Hitomi!" Merle said as she took off down the hall. "Don't you worry...I'll think of a way to get back at you!"

"Merle..." Hitomi thought as she watched her friend leave. 'You never change...do you?' Hitomi entered her room and closed her door. 'Now that I have my bag, I can get changed!' She thought happily as she opened her bag and dug around for some clean clothes, but her tarot cards caught her eye. 'You sure did cause me a lot of trouble.' Hitomi said to herself as she remembered everything that happened. But if she hadn't asked the cards about the future...maybe none of this would of happened...and she wouldn't have met Van or anyone else. She pulled on her jeans and a t-shirt and decided to go down and see if she could get some breakfast.

"Morning everyone!" Hitomi called happily as she entered the dinning hall. The only two in it were Allen and Van, and they seemed to be having a heated discussion about their plans on how to deal with Zaiback.

"Hitomi." Allen said as he looked to the doorway. He took a sip out of his cup, and looked up. He immediately spit it out once he saw Hitomi.

"Hitomi, what are you wearing?" Allen asked as he wiped his face.

"What's with you people? Why is it such a big deal when a girl wears a pair of jeans?" Hitomi asked sitting down at the table across from them.

"It's just that women here don't wear clothes like that." Allen said shrugging his shoulders.

"Whatever. Anyway, what were you guys talking about?" Hitomi asked as she put food into her mouth.

"We were discussing our plans for how to deal with Zaiback. There have been rumors that a Zaiback floating fortress has been seen in the area surrounding the city, and we need to start making plans for an attack if Zaiback makes the first move." Allen said in between bites.

"Oh...do you think they are going to attack soon?" Hitomi asked, with worry in her voice.

"Let's hope not." Van said as he got up to exit the room.

"Hey Van, did you know that Merle is back?" Hitomi asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, I do...you knew nothing could keep her away for long. She ran into my room real early this morning and scared the hell out of me." Van said putting a hand behind his head.

"Hmm...I wonder where she is now. She visited me this morning, but then she ran off." Hitomi said as the door was flung open. She looked up.

"Lord Van!"

"Guess I spoke to soon." Hitomi muttered as Merle threw her arms around Van's neck.

"Merle I can't breathe!" Van cried as he tried to shake the girl off of him.

"Sorry." Merle replied as she let go.

"I'll catch you guys later." Van said as he waved good-bye and exited the dining hall.

"You girls have fun now...I heard that the King is holding council this afternoon...make sure you're well behaved." Allen said with a smile as he left.

"Hey, I'm not a little kid! I know how to behave! She's the one that don't!" Hitomi cried pointing to Merle.

"Me?" Merle cried pointing to herself. "You're the moron form the Mystic Moon!"

"Merle you are so dead!" Hitomi cried as she lunged towards Merle.

"Can't catch me Hitomi!" Merle cried as she ran out of the dining hall.

"Hey! I'm an athlete, you better believe that I can catch you!" Hitomi yelled as she tailed Merle out of the room. Merle continued to run down the hall until she made a sharp turn, darting around a corner.

"Oh no you don't!" Hitomi cried as she flew around the corner, close on Merle's heals. 'Huh? Where did she go?' Hitomi asked as she looked down the empty hallway. 'I saw her turn and got down this corridor, but she's not here.' Hitomi wondered down the hallway looking in the open doors to see if she could find Merle.

"Merle! Where did you go?" Hitomi called once she reached the end of the hall. 'It doesn't matter, she couldn't have gotten that far, I'll just have to find her!' Hitomi thought with determination as she continued to search the castle. 'This place is huge! It's practically three times the size of the castle at Fanelia.' Hitomi was in a section of the castle she had never been, or at least she didn't remember ever being down this way. Ahead of her was another hallway, and she could have sworn she saw something move. 'I've found you Merle!' Hitomi thought as she quietly crept down the corridor. There were several doors in the hall, and all of them were closed. 'I wonder which one she went into. And why the hell does the hallway have to be so dark? Didn't these people ever hear of lights or electricity? They can build giant weapons of war, but they haven't discovered electricity?' She thought sarcastically, annoyed that she couldn't find Merle. She must have been real quiet because Hitomi didn't hear a door open and close. 'Doesn't matter, two can play that game.' Hitomi put her ear to the first door she came to and listened. 'Nothing sounds like it's moving inside.' Hitomi thought with disappointment as she made her way to the next door. She didn't hear anything, and was already halfway down the hallway. 'Maybe it was just my imagination.' Hitomi thought with defeat as she once again placed her war to the door.

'Huh? What was that?' Hitomi knew she had heard footsteps from the other side of the door. She carefully opened the door so that it wouldn't squeak. Once the door was opened enough for her to slip through, she entered the room and closed the door behind her, cautious of making a sound. The room was dark, like the hallway had been, since the drapes around the windows had been drawn closed, and the tapestry over the balcony had been shut so that only a sliver of bright sunlight came through. 'This place would definitely make a good hiding spot.' Hitomi thought as she moved further into the room without making a sound; she stopped and listened. Sure enough she could hear another person breathing in front of her, and to her left, towards the opening from the balcony. 'Merle probably thinks she can hide behind the huge curtains that cover the opening. Hitomi carefully made her way closer to the balcony, cursing her luck that she had he sneakers on since they wanted to squeak on the smooth stone floor. 'Almost there.' Hitomi thought with triumph as she approached the balcony. The breathing got louder, but she could barely make out the figure standing behind the curtains. 'Just a few more steps...'

"Gotcha!" Hitomi cried as she lunged for the figure. She came in contact with something, and was immediately thrown off and fell to the floor.

"What the hell?" The voice asked in the dark.

Hitomi had to roll on to her back so that her face wouldn't hit the floor. 'That didn't sound like Merle, and that move seemed like it was someone who was an experienced fighter.

"Whose there?" The voice asked as Hitomi heard the person draw closer to where she laid on the floor; the unsheathing of a sword was the only sound that filled the room. Hitomi could feel the metal press up against her neck as she tried to remain as still as possible. 'This person is definitely a conditioned fighter. They knew right where I was on the floor even though they couldn't see me.'

"P...please don't hurt me. I'm really sorry to have bothered you. I...I was looking fro my friend." Hitomi stuttered as she tried to ignore the feel of the cold metal point pushed up against her throat.

"H...Hitomi?" The voice asked, as the other person drew back the curtains so that Hitomi became bathed in the light from outside.

"Huh?" Hitomi said as she shielded her eyes from the onslaught of light. She had been so accustom to the dark that the bright light momentarily blinded her. Blinking a few times she followed the sword from her throat to the person who held it even though they were still behind the curtain.

"V...van, is that you?" Hitomi asked, trying to make out his shape in the dark, but something seemed off.

"Yes, what are you doing Hitomi?" Van asked as he immediately put his sword away, and let the curtains fall back to their original place so that the room was plunged into darkness once again.

"I was looking for Merle, but I couldn't find her, so I was looking around the castle and thought I saw her come down this hallway." Hitomi said into the surrounding darkness.

"Oh..." she heard Van reply even though she couldn't see his face, or any part of him for that matter. Hitomi got to her feet and then into a standing position.

"Why is it so dark in here?' Hitomi asked as she walked over to the curtains.

"No Hitomi! Don't!" Van cried as she pulled them opened as wide as they would go.

"Ah...much better." Hitomi commented as she turned around to face him. "...Van..." Hitomi muttered in disbelief as he dove for the curtains, pulling them

closed once again.

"Are you crazy?" Van yelled, standing before her.

"I...I didn't know." Hitomi said. When she had pulled open the curtains she had seen that Van had been standing in the corner, his wings spread out to their fullest behind him.

"Didn't you think there was a reason why they were closed?" Van asked. Hitomi could sense anger in his voice.

"How was I supposed to know that you had you're wings out." Hitomi said folding her arms over her chest.

"Just forget it." Van replied.

"Why do you have them out anyway?" Hitomi asked.

"That's none of your business...why don't you just leave." Van said as he pointed towards the door.

"What's your problem Van?" Hitomi asked getting angry as well.

"Just go." The sound of a hand making contact with skin sounded through the room. Van's hand flew up to the spot on his check where Hitomi's hand had made contact.

"I think I deserve a better explanation than that after all that I did." Hitomi was furious.

Van just stared at her, his head falling down in defeat. "You're right...I'm sorry...you caught me at a bad time, and I'm embarrassed about it."

"I'm sorry too...I had no right coming into your room like this...even though I didn't know it was your room." Hitomi said, feeling awkward once again. She hadn't expected him to cave in like he did.

"Millerna gave me a different room than the one I had been first placed in. She clamed that this one was more suited for a king." Van said, crossing his arms over his bare chest and staring at the floor.

"Well...that makes sense now...you not being in the same room and all." Hitomi stuttered, unsure of where this conversation was going.

"And...umm..." Van exhaled in defeat. "The reason why my wings are out..." Hitomi looked up...she didn't want to ask the question again, but she was glad that he was finally being open with her. "Is that, every once in a while, I have to let them out because they start hurting it they aren't stretched..." Van said.

"That's why the room is dark?" Hitomi asked, careful of how she pressed him for information. Van's wings were a touchy subject, and she didn't want to embarrass him further.

"Yes, I can't let anyone see them...I usually try to do it at night, but Merle charged in and I couldn't do it...so I waited until now, but it was already day out, so I drew the curtains on the widows and the balcony closed, and was only going to let them out for a few minutes, just so they wouldn't hurt so much, but you came in and caught me." Van said, even more ashamed about what happened.

"Van...I didn't know...why didn't you ever tell me that they hurt when they are drawn in?" Hitomi asked.

"Because...I don't want to talk about them. I wish I never had them in the first place!" Van cried. In the dimly lit room, Hitomi swore that she could see tears glistening in his eyes.

"But Van... Hitomi said as she heard him inhale sharply. 'He's going to draw them back in.' Hitomi realized, as she placed her hand on his arm. "Don't." Hitomi said, which startled Van, as well as herself. 'What the hell am I thinking?' Hitomi thought as she looked at him. "Don't draw them back in...if they hurt, leave them out."

"W...what?" Van asked, staring at here in disbelief. Hitomi had told him that she liked his wings, but he thought it was more of a spare of the moment type thing, than an actual confession...and that she had kept his secret so that the two of them wouldn't die.

"There who you are Van...you should accept that." Hitomi said she tried to dig her shoe into the floor. "I don't think you should be ashamed of them."

"That's easy for you to say...you're normal." Van said, turning away.

"And you're special." Hitomi whispered, and then turned red as she realized what she had said. Van whipped around to face her once again.

"What did you say?" Van asked, staring her straight in the face.

"I said..." Hitomi was embarrassed, how could she just confess to him like this, but she wanted him to trust her. "I said...that you're special." Hitomi looked down as she feared rejection. What Van did next totally shocked her. He slowly walked over to her and put his arms around her. When he was done embracing her, he let his arms drop to his sides, his hair falling playfully in his face.

"No one...no one has ever said that before. You and Merle are the only ones who knew about my secret before Allen and Millerna, and no one has accepted them, or me for that mattered...and I know they wouldn't think I'm special either." Van said, not looking up.

"I don't want you to feel ashamed when you're around me." Hitomi said, playing with her fingers. 'I don't think I've ever had a conversation like this before.'

"Not anymore, I won't." Van said as he smiled.

"I just wished that everyone would accept you for who you are." Hitomi said looking up.

"But it's enough for me that you do."

"Van...I"

"Hitomi...I don't know if you have given this any thought since we last talked about it, but are you going to go back to the Mystic Moon if we can find a way?" Van asked. To him, Hitomi was one of the most important people in the world, and he didn't know what he would do if he lost her.

"I...I think I'd have to go back. It's my home...my mom, dad, and brother are there, and all my friends, and I still have school to finish and-"

"I see." Van said as he cut Hitomi off. "I'll try to find a way for you to go back." Van said turning away. 'I already know the secret lies within the energist.'

"No...don't you do this. It's not fair that you put me in this kind of position." Hitomi cried grabbing his arm and making Van face her. "How can I just give up my family...everything that I've ever known."

"I'm sorry Hitomi...I was being selfish...I think it's time for me to get ready for the council meeting...if you'll excuse me."

"Yeah, see you later Van." Hitomi called as she left his room. 'Why does he have to do that? I don't know what I feel, but how can he expect me just to give up my family...like they mean nothing to me. Earth was my home for fifteen years, how am I just supposed to forget like it never happened?' Hitomi asked as she made her way back to her room. She wanted to lie down since she had developed a terrible headache from her encounter with Van. She entered her room and plopped herself down on the bed. She gripped her pillow with her fingertips and thought about what happened. 'I feel terrible about what happened. Van has no one, and when he tried to reach out to me, I pushed him away.' Hitomi thought as tears silently made their way down her face and stained the pillow she had been clutching. 'He must hate me now-' Hitomi's thoughts were interrupted as she heard a knock on her door. Hitomi prayed that if she laid really still, the person would think she wasn't in her room and go away. 'I really don't feel like dealing with anyone right now.' Hitomi thought. 'But it could be Van...' Dragging her feet, Hitomi made her way to her door and opened it.

"Merle!"

"Hitomi..."

"What are you doing here?" Hitomi asked in surprise.

"I hate you." Merle cried as she raised her hand. The thud sounded in the empty castle halls. Hitomi's hand flew up to the spot on the side of her face where Merle's hand had slapped her. The pain of emptiness she felt inside was more than the actual physical pain she felt from being slapped.

"Why...why did you do that?" Hitomi asked, as she tried to hold back tears that threatened to fall. "I really don't need this.' She thought as she brushed the moisture out of her eyes before the tears made their way down her cheeks once again.

"How could you Hitomi?" Merle asked with anger, somewhere along the line, she too had begun to cry.

"How could I what?"

"Why did you tell them about Van's secret?" Merle cried as she balled up her fists.

"I didn't tell anyone anything." Hitomi stuttered in confusion.

"Then why does the King know? He's holding that council meeting today to discuss what to do about him." Merle replied sharply.

"What are you talking about? I didn't tell the King."

"You had to. You're the only one who knew. I saw you just now. You and Van thought that you were alone, but I watched what happened through an opening between his doors. When you didn't follow me, I went to find you, and I heard you talking in Van's room, so I opened his door just enough to look in. You saw his wings and then you slapped him!" Merle cried, getting in a stance to hit Hitomi again.

"That's not what happened." Hitomi put up her arms in defense to prevent getting hit again.

"I know what I saw, you can't lie. I don't know why Van didn't get rid of you. All you ever do is cause trouble."

'Is that true?' Hitomi thought with defeat. 'Is all I ever do is cause trouble. I never wanted to hurt Van, but some how I have. I don't know how Van's secret got out...but I guess he blames me.'

"I thought he trusted me." Hitomi muttered, this time not trying to brush away the tears that made their way down her face.

"Do you know what you've done?" Merle cried taking Hitomi by the shoulders and shaking her vigorously. "His life will never be the same."

"I...I'm sorry. I never meant for him to get hurt." Hitomi had managed to detangle herself from Merle and did the only thing she could do. She ran. She didn't know where she was going, but she didn't want to face what she had supposedly done. She ran past a person in the hall, but didn't even bother to look up and see who it was.

"Hey, watch where you're going!"

Hitomi look up, gasped, and ran even harder.

"Hitomi...Hitomi wait! What's wrong...where are you going?!" Van called as he saw her turn the corner.

"Come back here Hitomi! I'm not done with you!"

Van tuned around to see Merle trailing after Hitomi.

"Merle, what's going on? Why is she crying?" Merle stopped in front of him.

"I'm going to make her pay for what she has done to you." Merle cried.

"What she has done?"

"She told your secret Van."

"What are you talking about? Hitomi would never tell anyone." Van said confused.

"But the King knows, that's why he called the council meeting."

"Merle, the meeting was about a letter that the King got from Zaiback, asking him if he knew that he is harboring a Draconian. Somehow when we were captured, they found out. Hitomi didn't tell anyone."

"But...but...Hitomi slapped you. I saw it." Merle said softly, the reality hitting her. "What have I done?"

"I'll explain everything when I come back Merle. I have to go get Hitomi and explain this misunderstanding to her." Van said, as he took off the way he saw Hitomi go. 'Where did you go Hitomi?' Van asked himself as he ran to find her.

Hitomi pushed a door open and ran outside, the cool air hitting her face. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon, the sky had turned a dark gray, and foretold of rain not too far off. 'Perfect...' Hitomi thought. "Just like my mood.' She didn't know where she was going; all she knew was that she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. 'Why Van? Are you that upset about what happened this morning?' Hitomi ran further as a slight drizzle began to fall from the sky. The rain mixed with her tears, as she made her way into a clearing with a few trees. Leaning against one of them, she stopped to catch her breath. 'What am I going to do? Where can I go?' Hitomi stayed under the shelter of the trees as the rain began to fall even harder to the point that the whole landscape was bathed in water. Hitomi was so wet that the water started to run off the tip of her nose, but she no longer cared, and didn't bother to brush it away.

"Hitomi! Hitomi where are you? Please answer me!" Van screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to be heard over the roar of the downpour. Van ran as fast as he could. 'This is no kind of weather for her to be out in...I have to find her as soon as possible.' Far off in the distance, Van thought he saw someone standing against a tree. "I'm coming for you Hitomi.' And Van took off in the direction of the tree.

Hitomi sneezed, as she cried harder to herself. 'This is a fine mess I've gotten myself into. Everyone is mad at me, and here I am dripping wet...and the rain doesn't seem like it will be letting up any time soon.' Hitomi wrapped her arms around herself, trying to provide as much warmth as possible. 'Maybe I should go back.' Hitomi sighed in defeat. 'And just think...I asked for all of this-' Hitomi's head went up as she heard her name called.

"Hitomi!"

"Who could that be?" Hitomi asked out loud to herself, as she walked around to the other side of the tree. 'Is that Van?' Hitomi thought as she tried to shield her eyes from the rain so she could get a better look.

"Please Hitomi don't move! I have to explain to you...I have to explain what happened." Van cried as he approached the tree. Sure enough Hitomi was there, a wet mess, shivering from the cold.

"Van?" Hitomi asked, as she peered at him from under her wet bangs.

"Hitomi, why did you run away?" Van asked stopping so that he was standing in front of her.

Hitomi cringed at his question, and looked away so she didn't have to meet his gaze. "Because Merle said that you blame me for your secret getting out."

"Hitomi, you know that's not true." Van said as he grabbed her arm and spun her around so that she faced him. "You were the only one who tried to protect my secret."

"Then why did she say that!?"

"Because she was misinformed and confused." Van said unconsciously lacing his hand with hers. He could feel her shiver, even though she seemed to be deep in thought and failed to notice it.

"Oh...I guess where both me and Merle are to blame then...huh?" Hitomi stuttered.

"It's my fault too. If I didn't have this "problem", we would never be having this conversation." Van said, his head going down in defeat.

"Don't say that...you know you had no control."

"And either do you. You can't always be there to protect me Hitomi, and in no way do I hold you responsible if something goes wrong."

"I...I don't know what to do Van. I never had to deal with situations like these when I was on Earth." Hitomi cried in frustration, as she began to sob once again. Van reached out his arms and embraced her, drawing her close to him.

"I'm sorry Hitomi."

"Don't be, it's not your fault." Hitomi muttered her head buried in his chest. "I just don't know what to do, how to feel...I'm so confused." Van gulped.

"Will this make it any better?" He asked. He had never done anything like this in his life. He was never a slave to passion, but he knew there was something special about her, something he didn't want to lose, and he was willing to damage his pride to dry the tears that feel from her eyes. He slowly bent his head towards hers, eyes closing as he drew closer to her.

'He's going to kiss me!' Hitomi thought suddenly as she looked up in response to his question. He was only inches away from her face, and she had to make a decision. 'He's so warm...I...I wish we could stay like this.' Hitomi's eyes slid shut as she felt his breath play upon her face. His wet hair brushed against her face, as she felt his lips met hers. She had never been kissed before, but somehow she knew that this felt right. Van was awkward...reluctant...and inexperienced...he lightly placed his lips on hers and was about to draw away when Hitomi brought her arms up to circle his neck. The kiss deepened as Van drew her closer to him. For them, time stopped, the rain falling about them long forgotten. The two only moved apart when they needed to come up for air. Hitomi opened her eyes to met Van's. He didn't need to say anything; his eyes said it all.

"That wasn't half bad huh?" Hitomi asked, trying to lighten the situation.

"No...it wasn't." Van said with a goofy smile. "In fact, I thought it was rather nice for a first kiss.'"

"It was your first time too?"

Van shook his head "yes" in reply. Neither said anything, unsure what to do next. The rain continued to fall, but both were deep in thoughts.

'I can't believe he kissed me!' Hitomi thought happily. She had never been kissed before, and always wanted her first kiss to be special, and right now, she couldn't think of another person she would rather share that with than Van.'

"What are you thinking about Hitomi?" Van asked, breaking the silence, he turned to face her. Hitomi blushed, not wanting to tell him the truth.

"I...I...was thinking that we should get back to the castle. I'm soaked."

"Oh..." Van said, his heart sinking in defeat. He wasn't expecting to get an answer like that, but them again he didn't know what was supposed to come next either.

"Ready?" Hitomi asked, as she reached for his hand, winding her fingers around his. Van blushed red with embarrassment.

"You sure?" Van asked, pointing to where their hands were intertwined. He had never held hands with a girl before.

"No Van...you have the cooties, and I don't want to hold your hand." Hitomi said, rolling her eyes. "Of course I'm sure."

Van gave her that goofy smile again. "Sorry, I'm kind new at this."

"Me too, just relax and go with it.' Hitomi said, as the two took off running through the rain, trying to get back to the castle. Once the doors were in sight, Hitomi turned to Van.

"Race you there!"

"You're on!"

The two took off running and screaming, slipping on the ground where the rain had made it wet.

"You're too slow Van!" Hitomi called, after she had obtained a slight lead against him.

"That's because I'm enjoying the view from back here!"

"Van! You pervert!" Hitomi cried, turning around to look at him.

"Calm down Hitomi, I was just kidding." Van said holding up his arms. The two were now approaching the doors to the castle, when they were suddenly flung open.

"Hitomi!"

Hitomi turned around to see Merle charging straight for her.

"Hitomi, I'm so sorry about what happened." Merle cried and threw her arms around the other girl's neck. Hitomi smiled, and hugged her back.

"That's okay Merle...Van explained that it was a misunderstanding. But if I catch pneumonia, I'm holding you responsible." Hitomi said joking.

"Hitomi! I said I was sorry." Merle responded putting her hands on her hips.

"Come, on you two, let's get inside and dried off." Van said, leading the way back through the castle doors.

"I'm going to go and get changed." Hitomi called once they had entered. She took off down the hall, waving good-bye.

'You too Lord Van. You're dripping wet."

"Lord Van..."

"Lord Van!!"

"What is it Merle?" Van asked, breaking out of his trance.

"Why aren't you listening to me? Get that stupid smile off your face." Merle cried placing her hands of her hips.

"Sorry, guess I was day dreaming."

"Sure you were...now go get changed." Merle replied.

"Yes Mom!" Van called as he took off for his room. Merle shook her head in response.

................................................................................