Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. I do, however, own this twisted little plot, and any characters I have created. Basically, if you don't recognize them, they're probably mine. In this chapter, I own many, many people, who I am not going to name specifically here.
Re-Visions
Chapter 13
It was hot. Stiflingly hot, chokingly hot. She could hear the crackle, the hungry roar of fire all around her. The smoke was thick, filling her lungs, making it even more difficult for her to breathe. Gasping for air, she dropped to her knees, trying to get below the smoke. It billowed about her as she vainly looked around. She could tell she was inside a building of some kind, a large, empty building. It seemed there was no one around. Then she heard the unmistakable clash of swords. Who would be so foolish as to fight in a burning building? she wondered, staggering to her feet. Slowly, she made her way in the direction of the sound. Steel clanged again, and she thought she heard a muffled curse. Through the smoke, she imagined she saw movement. She took another step and saw Van, sword drawn. Why was he fighting in this inferno? She tried to call out to him, but choked and gagged. He was coughing even as he fought. His opponent was a man slightly taller than he, with broad shoulders. His back was to her, though, and she could tell no more. Their blades rang out yet again. The other man was coughing now as well, as they circled around each other. Fiery timbers fell all about them, one narrowly missing Van's opponent. As he leapt out of the way, she saw his face.
It was Goau, Van's father, his lip curled in a sneer of hate.
Another beam fell from the roof and struck Van a glancing blow, knocking him down. She reached for him, to try to wake him, but could not. She was too far away. She watched in horror as the demonic Goau advanced, his sword ready. "No!" she shrieked. "NO! Van, get up! Please, Van, get up!" Even the roar of the flames faded away. She watched Goau raise his sword, and bring it whistling down
"No!"
It was only a whisper in her ears, and she blinked. Van's beautiful mahogany eyes were staring at her, filled with worry. He was all right . . . Suddenly, darkness claimed her.
She drifted for a long time, aware, but not aware. The darkness moved with her, rippling almost in time with her breathing. There was a presence, warm and comforting, though it was only with her a short while.
Eventually, she started to wonder if she was lost in a vision. She was not in her body- she felt completely weightless. She was, in fact, floating through the void. She closed her eyes, waiting for fear to take hold of her.
When she opened them again, she was laying on her bed, in her own room.
"No!" she gasped, sitting upright. But it was her room. Her pictures stood on the dresser, her books on the desk, her clothes in the closet. She swung her legs off the bed, staring around in disbelief. How can I be here? I decided to stay with Van! Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet, and walked over to her dresser. There was her favorite picture, of Yukari and Amano, taken not too long before Amano had left with his family. She had taken it without their knowledge. Yukari was leaning back against Amano's chest. His arms were around her, her hands resting on his. They were looking at something out of the range of the camera, smiling. Hitomi reached to pick it up, and her hand passed right through it. She realized then that her body was transparent, as she held up her hand to study it. The wave of relief she felt was so overwhelming that she nearly fell to her knees. I'm not really here; this must just be a vision. I'm really still on Gaea, with Van.
Suddenly, she thought she heard something, and turned toward the door. It was still slightly ajar, as she had left it, though she knew her parents must have been in here since then. A faint sound drifted in. Unwillingly, she moved toward the door, half floating, half walking. She passed through the door with no ill effects. Yes, the noise was louder now, and it sounded like . . . someone was crying.
Hitomi stopped at the head of the stairs, struck by a horrible realization. This . . . this is almost like that black and white vision . . . But all my stuff was still in my room! Everything had been taken away in the vision. Why is it different now?
The weeping drew her down the stairs, forced her down each step. It got slightly louder when she reached the bottom, but she still couldn't figure out who it was. She knew that he or she would be in the living room. More of her own volition now, she willed herself to the entrance to the living room. Distantly, she noticed that she did not cast a shadow. Well, she thought, I'm not really here. I don't have a body . . . She paused in the doorway to the bright room, unsure if she wanted to know, after all.
At her first glance, she was surprised. Despite the sobbing, the room looked empty. Drawn in now in spite of herself, she finally saw the back of her mother's head, just over the back of the sofa. It looked like she was kneeling or sitting on the floor, between the sofa and the coffee table. "Mom?" Hitomi asked, forgetting that she might not be able to hear. "What are you doing?" She walked around the end of the sofa and stopped in shock.
Hitomi knew she'd only been gone a month, certainly not much more. But to look at her mother, it might have been years. Her face was streaked with tears, the lines around her eyes and mouth carved deeper in her grief. Her hands trembled as she held a picture frame, setting it to rattling. Her hair had been brown, with a few strands of grey- now it seemed to be mostly grey. "Mom? Are you all right?" She knelt beside her mother, and reached out to touch her shaking arm, but refrained when she saw the grain of the carpet through her hand.
Slowly, incredulously, Mrs. Kanzaki turned. "I'm losing my mind," she whispered. "I keep thinking . . . and now I can hear your voice . . ." Her eyes widened when she saw her daughter's concerned face. "Hitomi! You're here! You've come back . . ." The picture, of Hitomi, her mother and her grandmother, dropped from her numb fingers, to the thick carpet, which thankfully cushioned its fall. One hand crept up to cover her mouth, and she stared. "Oh, Hitomi, why did you run away? We've been so worried about you!" She reached out to embrace Hitomi, not even noticing that the wall behind her was clearly visible through her.
"Mom, don't. You can't touch me. I . . . I'm not really here." Hitomi drew back, away from her mother. She'd never seen her like this before. Her calm, dependable mother was nearly hysterical.
"Not really . . . Hitomi, what . . ." Then she saw her transparency. "Oh," she whispered, hands falling to her knees. "Oh, you're dead, you're a ghost . . . I am crazy . . . I can't believe it." Tears leaked from her closed eyes again, and she shook her head in denial. "No, no, it can't be!" she wailed.
Hitomi felt herself start to cry in response to her mother's distress. "No, Mom! No, I'm not dead. I'm alive and safe . . . I'm just . . . not here . . ." Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she asked, "Mom, did Grandmother ever tell you about . . . Gaea?" She watched as the older woman nodded. "Well, I've been there, too. Three years ago, a pillar of light took me away . . ."
It took a long while, but she told her mother the whole story, telling her what Van had said about her powers, blushing a little as she recounted how much she was in love with Van. Earnestly, she said, "Please, Mom, please understand. I know it's hard. It was so hard for me to decide, because I love you all so much, you and Dad and Ichiro and Yukari and my friends. I know there will be days when I'm going to want to ask you something, or want to talk to Yukari, or just want to be around my family. It will always be hard. But I love Van, too. I need to be with him. I'm complete with him, somehow. I'm sorry."
Mrs. Kanzaki wiped at her cheeks. "Hitomi, why didn't you tell me before?" she asked, her tone a little accusing.
Hitomi looked at her hands, folded nervously in her lap. "I was afraid you wouldn't understand," she replied softly. "I'm sorry."
"It's all right." She stared at her daughter, drinking in the sight of her as a man parched by the sun would water. "But now . . ."
Hitomi felt something tug at her, drawing her away. "Now- I think I have to go. But don't worry, Mom. I will be all right. I'll try to let you know how we are, from time to time, if I can." The world was wavering about her, growing indistinct as the pull became more insistent. "I love you, Mom." The darkness was creeping, following the watery edge of her vision.
Very faintly, as her mother shimmered away, Hitomi heard her say, "I love you, too, daughter." There was a muffled laugh. " . . . grandchildren!" Then there was only the blackness that moved as she breathed.
But not for long. The demand was stronger the closer she got. She closed her eyes on the void, pulsing around her, and felt her body once more. She settled into it gingerly, getting used to it again before opening her eyes.
***
Though he was eager to hear what the pyro's ultimatum was, Van could only listen with half an ear. The rest of his attention was alternately fixed on Hitomi and what the Asturian airship might mean.
"Captain Tesk brought this to us this morning," Lady Avengine said, smoothing out a crumpled screw of paper. "One of the guards at the castle gate found it, when the sun rose." She handed the flattened paper to Van.
The note read: King Van, I have heard you are concerned about the fires I've been setting. Unfortunate, that. Give up your throne, like a good boy, and the fires will stop. Your polluted blood makes you unfit to hold Fanelia's throne. How many people must die, how many must suffer, before you realize it? Leave Fanelia and let a king fit to rule take your place. And take that witch from the Mystic Moon with you, if you like her so much. If you will not, starting tonight, watch your city burn one home at a time, and despair. Of course, it was unsigned.
Van fought down the fury the words evoked in him, and forced himself to read it again. Frowning, he studied the curiously formed, stilted letters. He could not get rid of the nagging feeling that, despite the attempt to disguise it, he knew the hand that had written the note.
"Sire?"
Van looked up, startled, and realized he'd been muttering the word "Bastard," over and over. He cleared his throat, embarrassed, and said, "Sorry."
"Well, my lord? What are your thoughts?" Robero Jor asked, calmly enough, but Van could see his hands folding and unfolding restlessly.
"I will not- I cannot- do as he demands," Van replied simply. "My parents and my brother left me with a duty to this country, to the people who live here. I am not going to just abandon it on the urgings of this . . . madman." He longed to use stronger words, but restrained himself somehow.
"Of course not. We did not expect you would." Lady Avengine studied him closely. "However, we are now left with the remainder of his threat- to burn the city down. How can we prevent him from carrying it out?"
Gare cleared his throat. "Guards . . ."
Van waved his hand. "We've been trying to find this pyromaniac for years, and he's managed to elude us, no matter how many guards we put out on the streets. More guards are not the answer." He crossed his arms and stared fixedly at the floor. "There must be something else . . ."
But what? he wondered. What is this man, that he can do this, and not leave a trace? How can he evade so many troops, patrolling the streets? If we hadn't decided on extra patrols, it might be understandable . . .
He was broken from his reverie by a voice echoing through the council room. "Lord Van." A sentry called from the doorway. Rather than make the man yell, Van rose and crossed to him. "The captain of the airship . . . he wishes to speak to you immediately. I tried to tell him you were in council, but he would not listen. I ran ahead to warn you, but he's right behind me . . ."
Van sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. "Did you happen to get his name?"
The guard shook his head. "No, I . . ."
"I didn't give it to him." Striding up the corridor toward them was the familiar figure of Allen Schezar. The three years since the end of the war had changed him but little. Perhaps his hair was a little longer, his face a little older, perhaps his eyes were a bit sadder. But over it all, he still wore his Knight Caeli uniform, and that quiet air of confidence that others often mistook for smug superiority.
At his appearance, Van stiffened almost imperceptibly, then coerced a smile. "Allen. You look well." He reached out to clasp the other's hand. "It's good to see you again."
Allen smiled in return, and returned Van's handshake. He was not surprised at Van's tense reaction to his arrival, though a bit saddened. I knew he could hold a grudge, Allen thought. Look at how he acted around his brother, when Folken defected from Zaibach- like he was still the enemy. Inwardly, he sighed. Well, I can't say that I blame him. I knew he loved Hitomi before he did, and I still pursued her . . .
He blinked and brought himself back to the present, just as Van asked, "What brings you here? Is there something going on in Asturia? We haven't had much news . . ."
Actually, Van," Allen said cautiously, as if feeling his way. "It's the news from Fanelia that interests me . . ."
Van stared at him for a moment, considering. "I see," he replied steadily. Then he turned to the guard, still standing by uneasily. "Please, go to Captain Tesk's second in command, and have him join us here as soon as possible."
"Not . . . not the captain himself, Sire?" His voice was nervous.
"No. Captain Tesk managed to create a scene earlier, and we do not wish him to return. At least not until I can see him without wanting to knock him out." He muttered the last under his breath as the guard bowed and trotted away. Allen hid his grin behind one gloved hand. Van eyed him again, and said, "We're right in the middle of council now. But if you wouldn't mind waiting, then I can discuss the 'news' from Fanelia. You can even join us if you like." Without waiting for Allen's reply, or even to see if the other would follow, he reentered the council chamber.
There had been a short, rather pointless discussion among the three that remained. They fell silent as Van returned. He introduced Allen to them, and informed them of the summons he had sent. It was only a few minutes later that Tesk's lieutenant stumbled in, a tall, narrow, unshaven man of about Allen's age. He was polishing his insignia and buttoning his coat even as he dashed in. He looked up and stopped, his eyes wide, as he saw his king glaring at him. He swallowed convulsively, Adam's apple bobbing, and stood at attention.
"Lieutenant . . . Taris, isn't it?"
The lieutenant nodded and swallowed again. "Yes, my lord," he managed.
Van stood and walked around the sweating soldier. "Since you are in such a state," he began in a deceptively smooth tone of voice, "you must have been asleep. If you were asleep at such a late hour, you must have been on patrol last night. I would like to hear about what happened on that patrol, Lieutenant." He waited expectantly, just in front of Taris.
"My . . . my lord?" Taris stuttered in confusion.
"Now, Lieutenant!" Van barked.
Allen tried to make himself invisible, leaning casually against the wall. He was certain the boy had not, in fact, been on patrol last night, and fairly sure Van knew it, too. He was much more interested in how Van would handle the situation.
He'd heard rumors, blown out of proportion, perhaps, by the time they reached the rebuilt fort on the swamp. There were some of a pyromaniac, setting fire to the city of Fanelia piece by piece. Other rumors said it was Dilandau, still seeking revenge on Fanelia's king. Still others said that Fanelia had been burnt to the ground again. But it was the newest rumor, unconnected with any of the others, that had brought him here.
"My lord, I only get sent out on special patrols . . . or when there aren't enough men to fill all the guard posts. There were no special patrols last night." Taris licked his lips and risked a glance at his king, then wished he hadn't.
There was a deep silence in the chamber for the span of three heartbeats, five.
Very quietly, Van asked, "When was the last time there were special patrols?" His fingers twitched on the hilt of his sword, unnoticed by any but Allen.
"It has been perhaps three sevendays," Taris whispered. "There have been only the regular night squads."
He was doing an admirable job of containing his temper, Allen noted dispassionately. A few years ago, he would have been vowing to kill someone by now.
With a calm he did not feel, Van turned to his advisors. "My lords, my lady, I believe we may have found the power, the ultimatum, behind our firebug." Whirling back around, he snapped, "Lieutenant!"
"Sire?" Taris stared straight ahead.
"Go, arrest Kenet Tesk and bring him to me. Immediately."
Deep within his soul, Taris quivered with dread, but he saluted and ran from the room. He felt that the king had just signed his death sentence.
No one dared speak as Van paced. Within moments, a great hue and cry was raised in the courtyard, and all could hear the heavy pounding of booted feet.
Finally, Allen coughed. "He's gone, you realize."
Van clenched his fist, and said nothing. He knew Allen was right.
Several long, painful minutes went by before Lieutenant Taris returned. He knelt, breathing heavily, and said, "Sire, I regret to report that Captain Tesk cannot be found within the castle. Shall I sent out parties to search the city?"
"No."
Gasps arose from the advisors behind him. Before anyone could say anything intelligible, thought, Van held up his hand. "After the midday meal, send a squadron down into the city, to a place I will direct you. Stay there until you are relieved, and watch for anyone doing anything suspicious. I believe that's where the firebug will strike next. Arrest anyone doing anything out of the ordinary, especially after nightfall."
"I see what you are after, Sire." Lady Avengine smiled. "Lull him into thinking that we are not concerned with him, and spring the trap where your lady had her vision." She nodded. Her sharp eyes caught Allen's jump of surprise.
"Catching him in the act, I hope," Van concluded. "Until we have him, then, there's nothing left to discuss." His tone was firm with finality. Taking the none too subtle hint, his councilors departed.
Allen stood up straight, abandoning his casual pose. "The rumors were true, then, weren't they?" he asked quietly.
"Depends on which you mean," Van replied evasively. He was fairly sure he didn't want to have this conversation with Allen, at least not now. Perhaps later, when the marriage had already taken place . . . No, that wasn't fair. Better to face it now. Nevertheless, he still walked quickly to the door.
Allen's legs were as long as his, and he could keep up with the younger man easily. "Hitomi has returned, hasn't she? The rumor was that a column of light, like the one that had taken her home, had reappeared, not once, but twice, here in Fanelia." He kept his tone low, even as he dogged Van through the castle. "You went to bring her back. Judging from what your cousin said, you have asked her to marry."
Van said nothing. Finally, Allen could take it no more, and grabbed his arm, jerking him to a halt. "Damn it, Van, answer me." His voice was rough with emotion, but still low. "I have a right to know."
"What right?" He didn't look at the knight, and even to himself, he sounded distant. Try to feel nothing, he told himself.
Allen released him. "The right of a friend," he said simply. "She is my friend."
Van glanced at him, startled. Well, he thought, as long as it doesn't go further than that. "Yes, she has come back, and she has agreed to marry me." Despite his anger and uncertainty, a shiver of joy shot through him at the words.
They were in the corridor outside the infirmary. Van tapped at the door. It opened a crack, and he saw Sari's amber eye peer out at him, then it opened fully. "Sire." She stood back, and he entered, Allen close at his heels. "She has not woken yet."
Van had already gone to stand beside Hitomi's cot. Her face still carried that troubled expression, and when he touched her cheek, it was damp with tears.
"What happened?" Allen asked in hushed tones. He had followed Van, and stood, staring down at Hitomi.
"She had a vision, perhaps an hour ago, while we were in council. Sari, are you sure she hasn't woken? She's been crying."
"I have been within earshot since you brought her here," the healer replied somewhat stiffly. "I would have heard if she had stirred at all."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I was just surprised. Her face is wet." Carefully, he sat next to her on the cot.
"She had a vision?" Allen prompted, still studying her. She's so thin, he thought, even thinner than she was years ago.
"Yes. Then, she just fainted." He took her hand, and reached out along their bond, to nudge her awake with his feelings. Then he started to get scared, for he could not sense her. She simply was not there. There was only blackness.
Has she gotten lost in another vision? he wondered. Trying to keep the fear from his voice, he spoke her name. "Hitomi? Hitomi, come back now, love." With his free hand, he stroked her face again, and called to her in his mind.
Even as he did, suddenly, to his profound relief, she was back, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked at him for a second, then reached up to rest her hand on his, and smiled. "Van," she whispered. "You're all right."
The worry on his handsome features eased. To her, he was the best thing to wake up to. Having done it twice already today, she decided that she wanted to spend the rest of her life doing it.
He grinned at her, and she felt her cheeks turn pink, as she realized that their link was open. He'd heard her thought. But she kept smiling. After all, it was only the truth. She heard a discreet cough, and some shuffling of feet. Van's smile melted away, and his face set into no expression at all. As puzzling as that was, it was much more distressing to her that he simply withdrew from the link, with no explanation. She could still sense him, of course, but he would not respond to her. He'd walled off his feelings.
"Hitomi, Allen is here." Van rose to his feet and helped her sit up.
In an instant, she understood, and she could have cheerfully killed Allen on the spot. Not that Van was any better. In a tone loaded with as much exasperation as she could muster, she told him silently, Don't be such an idiot. I love you, not Allen. Without waiting for his reaction, she smiled up at the knight and said, "It's great to see you again, Allen."
Quick as thought, he lifted her hand where it lay on her lap and raised it to his lips. He just barely brushed his lips against the back, staring into her green eyes all the while. "And you as well, Hitomi," he murmured, caressing her with his voice.
As gently as possible, she disentangled her hand. She knew he couldn't help it- Allen naturally tried to charm every woman he met, even those who had rejected him. But she could sense that Van was smoldering beside her, and wisely wanted to forestall an explosion. "Allen," she said mildly. "Would you want Van doing that to your fiancée?" She glanced mischievously up at Van, and could see the smile now quirking at the corner of his mouth. "Or didn't Van tell you?"
Allen realized that he had rather taken for granted that Hitomi would succumb to his charisma, and that he should probably consider himself lucky that Van hadn't thrown him out on his ass. Trying to salvage some dignity, he bowed formally and replied, "Indeed, he did. My sincere wishes for your happiness, your Majesty, my lady."
"Thank you," she answered graciously. She saw Sari standing at the foot of her cot, smiling at her indulgently. "I feel fine, now, Sari," she said. "Would it be all right if we left?"
"Yes, yes, go on, my lords, my lady. No need to be cluttering up my sickroom if you needn't be." Allen and Van stood back to let Hitomi stand, and they all headed for the door. Allen was a few steps in front, and didn't notice when Sari laid her hand on Hitomi's arm. "I knew that I was going to have to call you 'my lady'," she whispered, looking significantly at Van. He blushed, and Hitomi had to smother a giggle with her hand.
Van brought them back to the council room, filling Hitomi in on all that had happened since her vision had carried her away. The words of the note left her pale and amazed. She'd known before that there were those who hated her, on her previous sojourn. But this seemed so much more personal.
Sinking down onto a crate, she said, almost inaudibly, "The fire . . ."
"What fire?" Allen stared at her strangely, but Van was silent.
Lifting one hand to her forehead, she said, "All the fires that have been set- they've been leading up to this. But I think that I have forced his hand. Because he knows that I've started having visions about the fires, he thinks that I might be able to stop him. He hasn't had time yet to convince everyone that it's your fault, Van. So instead . . ." She took a deep shuddering breath. "Instead . . . he'll try to kill you, and blame it on the fire. I saw it . . . except in my vision, he was your father." She covered her face with her hands.
"My father?" Van echoed, stunned.
Allen rubbed his chin with one finger. "In a way, that does make sense. Your father was the last 'true' king of Fanelia, in this fanatic's eyes. So he may see himself as Goau, as the avenging spirit of Fanelia."
"He won't avenge anything," Van stated flatly. "I am the rightful king of this country, by blood and by the Rite." He sat next to Hitomi on her crate, and put an arm around her. Immediately, she turned to him, burying her face against his shoulder. "He won't hurt you." He spoke into her hair, just loud enough for her to hear. "I promise."
"I'm more worried about you," she replied, her voice muffled against his body. Her arms twined around him. "He's after you, not me." She sat back, and he was a bit surprised to see that her eyes were dry, though they glittered brightly. A bitter, self- mocking smile twisted her lips. "I want . . . oh, I want so badly to make you promise to stay here, to not go looking for him . . . But I can't," she said, as he took a breath to protest. "I can't ask that of you, because it would hurt you to keep it. But you . . ." Her voice broke, and she bit her lip, fighting for control over the wild fear she felt. "Please, just promise me you'll be careful, and that you'll come back," she whispered, holding tightly to his hand.
He gave her a squeeze. "I will."
Allen had moved away, over to one of the windows, to give them privacy. He stood, looking out at the city and the mountains, sneaking glances at the couple from time to time. He could hear them talking softly for a short while, and then there was only silence. When he peeked at them, Hitomi was leaning against Van again, and he was stroking her back and hair. Somehow, watching their embrace made Allen feel like a voyeur, it was so private, so intimate, and he quickly turned away. The breeze caused a few long strands of his hair to wave about his face, tickling him. He forced it back, and tied it with a bit of cloth he kept for that purpose. He lost himself in contemplation of the shades of green on the mountainside.
"Allen." Van called his name very softly. He jumped and turned, finding Van hand managed to creep up on him soundlessly. Looking over the younger man's shoulder, he saw Hitomi had fallen asleep. Van had carefully laid her on the floor by the crate on which they had been sitting.
Seeing the direction of his gaze, Van said, "She didn't sleep at all last night. She was nervous about meeting my advisors, and she's still recovering."
His eyes flew back to Van. "Recovering from what?" he asked, concerned.
He did not reply, but stepped closer, and looked out the window. He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. I didn't want to do this, he thought, closing his eyes. "Allen, I need to ask . . . a favor of you." He opened his eyes, but could not look at the knight as he spoke. "If, by some chance, I am killed, as she saw in her vision, I . . . I want you to take care of Hitomi." His voice was pitched so low as to be nearly inaudible. "Support her in whatever she wants to do . . . and let her know I'm sorry, and I . . . I love her. Please." He finally looked at the other then, and found Allen staring at him in surprise.
"She already knows that," Allen replied. "But I will." Now he was unable to look at Van. "Thank you for your trust. I know what this cost you."
Van nodded curtly, and turned away. "I have to go, I have to show Taris where Hitomi had her vision, and I'm going to stay until we capture Tesk, and whoever else is involved. And . . . thank you." With that, he strode out of the chamber.
Allen left the window to consider Hitomi as she slept. He understood that she hadn't been sleeping before, in the infirmary. Her face was relaxed into a slight smile now. Before, it had been a mask of concentration. He sat on one of the crates.
As the sun traveled slowly westward, shortening and lengthening the shadows in the bare room, Allen found that being alone with one's thoughts can be very unpleasant indeed.
