Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters.

Chapter 10: Jealousy's temper

Hitomi sat silently on the bed. No one had entered sense Merle left 3 hours earlier. The chilled air blowing through the open window of her room sent chills down her spine. She lifted herself up and swung her legs over the side of the bed and slowly began to stand on her unstable feet, holding her chest tightly as she tried not to move the wrong way. Hitomi silently crept towards the window and sat down upon the windowsill gathering a nearby blanket and rapping it around her. She gazed out into the night's starry sky her gaze stopping on the two moons. She never even heard the footsteps behind her.

"Hitomi?" Hitomi didn't move just answered in a whisper

"Yes?" Anthony walked casually up to her and sat on the other side locking his eyes onto her face

"You wanna talk about it?" Hitomi looked over at him her expression was far away and forlorn. Two more shadows stepped into the room watching the two in silence, both with a critical eye. A tear slid down Hitomi's face

"Oh Anthony I miss them, I miss them so much" She breathed before breaking down and placing her hands over her face as to cover her tears shamefully. Anthony moved closer and rapped his arms around her

"Who Hitomi?"

"My...MY family" Anthony looked out the window and up to the largest moon

"I couldn't save them Anthony, all the visions and extra perceptions I have, they were for nothing I still, I still lost them" Anthony placed his chin on her crown and sighed heavily tightening his embrace.

"I'm sorry" he whispered. He placed his lips near her ear and whispered something between only the two of them.

"I didn't know Hitomi, but know this. That it's not your fault and you're not alone anymore" A creek behind them sent his neck snapping upward

"Who's...oh Van, Allen it's you. I didn't hear you come in. How long have you been here?"

"Long enough!" Van growled, shooting a glare that could be clearly rated in the 'if looks could kill' category. Anthony was disturbed by this and began to stand

"I just remembered I have somewhere to be" Hitomi looked up at him revealing her tear-stained cheeks to the others

"Hitomi?" Allen whispered ignoring the retreating Anthony

"What ever is the matter?"

"Nothing I just was overwhelmed for a moment I'm sorry" Van clinched his fist and frowned deeply.

"You can tell Anthony but not us Why is that Kanzaki?"

"Van? Van I..." Van turned and stormed out of the room. Quickly catching up with a slow walking Anthony. Van let his anger over flow as he passed the elder man

"Out of my way!"

"Van?" Anthony questioned trying to side step and avoid Van's apparent rage, but was met by Van grabbing his collar and pulling his face to his so they were eye to eye

"Van I don't know what you want from me but..."

"Silence!"

Hitomi lightly and carefully ran up behind Van and tugged at his hand trying to pry his fingers from Anthony's collar

"Van stop it, what's the matter with you!" She cried letting more tears fall from her eyes. Van used his elbow and pushed her away sending her crashing into a table, then to the floor behind him. No sooner than he had done this had he realized his actions. His eyes turned to worry and he released his death hold letting Anthony place his feet steadily on the ground.

"Hitomi are you alright" Anthony yelled pushing Van out of his way and into a side wall as he went to aid Hitomi who was now lying face down one hand clutching her chest tightly, her breathing rapid, and painful.

"Hitomi speak to me please. Let me know your ok!" Anthony pleaded

"I...It...nghhh... It hurts to...to...ughnhh" Allen dropped to his knees beside Hitomi and lifted her gently in his arms

"Fanel! What the hell were you thinking?"

Van stepped forward a look of pain and anguish on his face

"I didn't mean to...I mean I'm sorry...I was...I was just..."

"Jealous?" Allen interrupted

"That doesn't give you the right to strike down a defenseless woman, and on top of that Hitomi for Gods sake. I should challenge you to a duel to defend the lady right now, but if you'll excuse me I think she needs to be attended to" Allen turned sharply on his heel and began to leave holding Hitomi close, anger burning in his eyes.

"But it was an accident I didn't mean to..." Van tried to convence Allen or maybe more himself, but either way he was met by silence. Anthony stopped Van before he could follow after Allen and looked him in the eyes.

"Jealous of what Van? I honestly don't know what you think you see, but she loves you...very much so" with that spoken Anthony passed him leaving Van alone frozen still in the hall.

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Van sat on the roof of one of the towers overlooking the ocean beauty in the moonlight. The wind blew a chill down his spine making him shake violently a moment. His arms rapped around his thin sweater in an unsuccessful attempt to keep heat in. His eyes were forlorn and full of torment; they looked far away as if hiding away from the world. He lifted his eyes to the largest of the to moon's and let a sigh escape his lips

"How could I have been so stupid? I knew my temper would get me in trouble one day, but I never thought I'd take it out on her" Van lifted a hand and grasped his hair in frustration. A loud creek caused his head to snap up and his eyes to dart around in alarm. He was not sure but for a split second out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a figure dart into the shadows

"Who's there?" He demanded rising to his feet, his hand traveling down to his waist till coming to rest on the hilt of his sword. Another noise sent him turning swiftly on his heal to face nothing but the darkness behind him. With a deep breath he glided ever so quietly across the roof drawing his sword reading his nerves for a confrontation. He pressed his back against a wall he could hear it now, he could hear something, some one breathing. He turned a corner with a cry, but there was nothing. Van relaxed and lowered his weapon. A shriek sounded catching him off guard and knocking him of balance towards the edge. A bat flew past his face as he planted his feet firmly on the last of the roof edge. He placed his sword in its scabbard and lifted a shaky hand to his forehead and wiped away the sweat, his breathing slowly becoming less rapid.

"Stupid rodent nearly killed me" he cursed. Van turned and walked quietly towards the roofs door not noticing the red eyes that followed his disappearing figure an eerie smile prying on it's lips

"So easy to kill you Van, so easy" it whispered.

AN: I want you to know in no way do I make Van mean, but his temper would get the better of him sometime remember the Episode were he knocks Hitomi and Merle to the ground it's the same here.

I am sorry I haven't written in a while but I've been really busy, but I'm gonna keep tryin to finish this story. Being a senior, working 40 hours a week, and traveling in and out of the country isn't the easiest thing to do 'Smiles' Please review it's been awhile sense I've had much support lately even on my other book Dragon's of Myth and Legends.So please take time to review.

Thank's all

Dragon Heart