The Sequel
Author: Anne O. Nimus
***Chapter
6***
Author's Note: Help Me!! I need a title for this whole story! (Should I merege this with the other esca fic I have?) I looked through Esca fics and wow they have good titles and this title is making me feel bad!!! And another thing, *trying not to foreshadow anything* hypothetically speaking, if I try to hurt the main characters (e.g.: Hitomi, Van) will you kill me? Hate me? (dense cow and kei12 you don't have to answer) And yes, you are aware that I don't know anything about Beijing or China right? So, some places I made up… (Another thing, Hitomi's flashback came from "An Escaflowne fanfic" made by yours truly)
Disclaimers: You know I don't own Escaflowne, but I own my own characters!!
"Cauchon, are you ready?"
"Always and ever will be."
A black aura surrounds the two. It was almost dawn and it was a good idea to go there as early as possible. Out of nowhere, a black cylindrical shadow is seen in front of them. They enter it. And within seconds they land on solid ground… Fanelia.
They were disguised as commoners. They wore the same clothes
and talked the same language as everyone else did. No one, not even Allen
Schezar, who was patrolling around noticed that they were from the Mystic Moon.
He passed by them, thinking that they were citizens of Fanelia. Although, their
faces were not familiar, he didn't mind them at all. "Maybe they came from
another place. Or maybe I just didn't notice them before." His thoughts
were right. They did come from another place and he didn't notice
them before. Of course! How could he have seen them before if they came from
Earth? Or maybe they were invisible? Nobody knows for sure. The only thing that
Fanelia knows is that it is safe and no one will disturb its peace again. After
all, didn't the all mighty King Van defeat Dornkirk? So who else will there be
to defeat?
"Gerlain, are they really that stupid? They are so naïve!"
Cauchon says whispering.
"I guess so. Not even the royal knight who passed by us knows
anything."
"This is going to be fun…"
They walked around Fanelia, observing every little detail
and taking down note on where this place is, what kind of tree is that, how
tall this plant is, and so forth. Just then, they reached the palace.
"Oh, so this is the castle of Van. Pretty big for a young
king."
"It has a purpose of being that tall and large. They have an
arena for the guymelefs, and the place where they keep them."
"Is that so? Can I have a guymelef?"
"You are too childish."
A dark green aura surrounds the two of them and they become
invisible. They walked inside the castle without any trouble. They spot the
king with his servant. They listen to their conversation.
"Lord Van our people needs some sort of entertainment. What
do you think shall we do?"
"Maybe we could open the arena and use the guymelefs again.
Or maybe we could just… I don't know."
"Lord Van, are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine don't worry. I'm not sick."
(Cauchon: Not
sick of anything? He's lying.)
"Well then, should I tell the soldiers to prepare for a match?"
"No, don't do that. I'll think of another way to give the people this entertainment they are looking for."
(Gerlain: They
want entertainment? We'll give them entertainment…")
"Very well then. I should go now." The servant bows and
leaves the room.
Merle enters the
room bouncing up and down. "Lord Van! Lord Van! Are you finished talking to
those servants?"
"Yeah, I am. So, any news?"
"No, I just want to play! Come let's go outside!!!" Merle
tugs on Van's shirt.
"Not now Merle. I have some work to do. Van walks past by
Cauchon and Gerlain. He stops for a while and looks around. No one. I thought I saw someone… Maybe it was just my
imagination. He continues walking
while Merle complains.
****************************************************************************************************
Hwang Ho's room…
Hwang Ho is lying down on his white bed with his arms
crossed under his head. He is thinking of Hitomi.
If I deceive her, I will lose her trust… If I kill Van, I will hurt her even more and she will hate me… what am I supposed to do then?! Sh*t!
He walks to the
kitchen and prepares Hitomi's food. He isn't himself today. He seems… no, is
depressed. He almost dropped the teacup, almost destroyed the tea, and almost
messed up Hitomi's breakfast. But, thank heavens it all came out palatable.
As he
pushed the cart of food and drinks, he thought of Hitomi once again. Hitomi…
so
short the
time… so long it seems… and yet it grew… but I know that it is him you love…
and not
me… the China boy who tours and serves people… what am I compared to a
king
anyway? I am nothing… nothing at all… This thought made him feel disheartened
even more.
He reached Hitomi's room and knocks on the door three times.
A voice is heard. It was soft but it was clear enough for Hwang Ho to
understand her. "Don't come in yet! Don't even peep! I'm dressing up and if you
dare open that door I will kill you!!!" That voice and that threat made him
smile. "You and what army?" Hwang Ho says teasing Hitomi. "Me and… and the
Japanese army!!!" Hitomi opens the door with a smile from ear to ear.
"So, what are we having for breakfast?" Hitomi says leading
the way. She closes the door.
Hwang Ho changes the topic. "Hitomi, if it were your mom in
front of that door a while ago, and you said the same line as you did earlier,
what would her reaction be?" Hitomi sits down while Hwang Ho prepares the food.
"Let me see, she'll lecture me about respect and all that
stuff. Oh! It looks good!" Hitomi says as the aroma of breakfast circled around
the room.
"But, if you don't know who the person is behind that door,
how do you know what to say?"
"Uhh, I had this strong feeling that it was you."
"I forgot that she could tell the future… Oh, is that so? Well, that is beef." Hwang Ho
says as Hitomi eats.
"Beef for breakfast? You have got to be kidding! This is
what we call fruits. See, We have Papaya-"
"Apple, Mango, melon, and banana. I know Hitomi. I was just
trying to make you smile. Where do you want to go after this?"
"I would love to go to the Great Wall!! But, too bad, we
can't."
"I could take you somewhere…somewhere we haven't been to.
Want to come?"
"Oh! That would be great!! I'll go ask my mom later."
****************************************************************************************************
Fanelia…
"So, how's the day of King Van Fanel of Fanelia?" Millerna
says as she spots Van and Merle walking through the hallways.
"Oh… Millerna… it's fine…" Van says with that monotonous
voice of his.
"Really? I don't think so. I'm feeling very nosey today! So,
let me ask you again. How's your day?"
"Lord Van! C'mon! Let's play in the garden!! I'll be it!!"
"Good Morning Van! So, doing well?" Selena says joining the
group.
Allen shows up. "Van, anything el-"
"Will everyone please shut up and leave me alone?!" Van was
furious. He walked straight into his room and shuts the door with a loud thud.
Allen speaks up first. "So, who started it?" He addressed to
all the ladies.
Merle looks at Millerna and points at her. "She did!! She
was feeling nosey today and it made Van angry!!"
"Me? Oh no no no! It was you as far as I can remember who
was repeating over and over again 'Lord Van play with me! Let's go to the
garden and I'll be it!!'" Millerna says imitating Merle's voice.
"What? No way! I always do that and he doesn't complain!!"
Merle says starting the catfight.
"Well then-"
"Uhh! Will you please keep quiet and keep your voices
down?!" Allen says breaking up the two.
"Uhm Allen?"
"Yes Selena?" Allen's voice has an air of anger with it.
"Maybe it's just stress. He's not usually like that."
"Stress?"
"Yes…stress." Selena says nodding.
"We'll see. Now-" Allen spots Merle sticking out her tongue
at Millerna and Millerna glaring back.
"Ahem!" The two stop and listen to Allen. "Thank you. Now as
I was about to say, who wants to go in there and talk to Van?"
~*~*~*~
Van's room, same time…
Van is walking back and forth with his hands clutched on his
hair. "What is this? I can't think straight! I can't think straight! Darn it! I
can't think straight…" His eyes start to water. The tears flowed freely through
his cheeks. He stops walking and sits on his bed with his hands over his face.
"Hitomi… where are you? Hitomi… I… I need you… Hitomi…"
~*~*~*~
"Well, any takers?"
"Van won't tell me anything that personal."
Merle crosses her arms.
"I'm… I'm too afraid to try. Besides, I don't know Van that
much." Millerna says looking down.
"I can't go in there. I'm… I'm not close to him." Selena
reasons out.
"Fine, I'll go." Allen walks towards the door while the
three walked away.
"Van? Want to talk?" Allen says after knocking.
"Go away! I need some time alone too you know!" Van's voice
was shaking, indicating that he is crying.
"Van it would be much better if-"
"It will make no difference at all!"
"Yes it will Van!"
"What do you know? Why do you care?!"
"What do you think Van? I can help you! It doesn't matter if
I don't know what you're going through! What matters is I am here to help you
get your life straightened out!"
"Just leave me alone! I don't need you!"
"You need who then Van? Hitomi? Well then why don't you just
go there and live with her on the Mystic Moon?! Will that make you happy huh
Van? Will it?!"
The door opens. Van is still crying. "Don't you dare put
Hitomi in this issue! This is my-"
"Van you have to face reality! She isn't here and you have
to live with that fact!"
"I don't have to!! I could just go there and get her!" He
goes inside the room with Allen following behind him.
Allen slams the door. "Well then go get her! Now!"
Van glares at Allen and then looks away. He calms down.
"I…can't just get her… what if she rejects my offer? Her family… she can't just
leave them behind…" Van sits on his bed once more with his hands covering his
face.
Allen sits beside Van and puts a hand on his shoulder. "Van
anything can happen. You just have to make a move. If you really love her,
you'll accept and respect her answer."
"But there's no one else like her… she's the only one I
love…"
"I know Van. If it doesn't work out with the both of you,
maybe it means that you're not meant to be together."
"No…" Van stops crying.
"You'll have to work together to make your relationship
work. Besides, you haven't asked her yet."
"I know…" Van smiles at Allen. "Do I have to thank you?"
"You owe me one Van Fanel."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Meanwhile, outside the castle…
"Well, what shall we do next after taking down note on every
chamber?"
"We make a guymelef."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me Cauchon."
"Like how?"
The dark green aura surrounds the two and they become
visible again.
"Simple, we make an illusion."
"Oh, I thought we were going to make a real one."
"You don't know how to think. You are as dumb as a rock."
"Ouch! That hurt you know!"
"You'll have to get used to it. Let's go to Asturia."
****************************************************************************************************
Back at the hotel…
"Thanks mom!"
"No problem dear. As long as you come back safe and sound
and in one piece."
"Don't worry Mrs. Kanzaki I will take care of your
daughter."
And so, with the permission of Hitomi's mom, the two went
off to the train station.
"So, Hwang Ho, exactly where are we going? I want to know
where!"
"It's a surprise Hitomi! Just wait and see."
They ride the train. Inside Hitomi sat near the window.
"You know I should have paid for my own ticket. I shouldn't
have let you pay it for me. I have money!"
"Look at it this way Hitomi: I paid for your ticket because
this is my surprise for you. Now stop feeling bad!"
"No way! What about your family? That's their money too
isn't it?"
"Hitomi, I gave them part of my salary already! This is
mine! I use it for my own fun."
"No! I still want to pay you back!"
"Hitomi!"
"Hwang Ho!"
The two gave out a hearty laugh. The train moved and off
they went to this mysterious place Hitomi has never been to. Inside the moving
train, the two stayed unusually quiet. They suddenly ran out of topics to talk
about. But they were thinking of a whole lot of things.
(Flashback)
"Hi… Hitomi, I… miss you. I…i…it's just different living in Fanelia without you. I need you Hitomi. I… I…" He stops.
Hitomi was waiting for an answer, but she didn't say
anything. Van looked at Hitomi. Hitomi then looked at him right through his
eyes.
He's a very sincere person. I can see it right through his
eyes. But, why is he looking at me that way?" Hitomi
thought.
Hitomi looks down. "Van, is there anything that you would
want to tell me?" She said breaking the ice.
"I don't know Hitomi, I … I just don't know." He answers.
"What do you mean Van?" "I don't know… how." Van moves
closer as he explains. "There is something that I want to say, but I don't know
if I can say it to you … now. I ... I can't seem to get it out." He stops
walking.
Hitomi looks at him. "Go… go on. I'm listening."
Van takes a deep sigh. "Hitomi I came to see you because I
wanted to tell you that… I… I…"
"You? You what?"
" I love you." Van said suddenly.
Hitomi couldn't believe what she just heard. "Van, you came…
all the way … from Fanelia… to tell me… that you… love me? But… why?"
"I can't stand… being alone… feeling lonely in Fanelia. My
conscience… it has been bothering me… ever since you left. I… needed to tell
you… to get this heavy feeling… out of my… heart." There was a pause. "Hitomi,
I… I'm not asking you to… love me back… I just had to… get this feeling off me.
I can abscond now, if you wish me to-"
(End of flashback) That
voice… when will I be able to hear it again? Van… Hitomi gives out a sigh. I just wish I could see Fanelia
again. That place where you can see Earth… Gaea's the most breathtaking place
I've ever been to…. She gives out
another sigh.
(Flashback)
"Who are you? Get away from me! Nooo!!!"
"Calm down boy! I will not hurt you!"
"You know my language? But how?"
"That is not important. The important thing is that we get out of here!"
"Dornkirk will see us!! I will not go with you!!"
"He will not see us! I have been born with special powers that can help us get out of here!!!"
"No! I'm too afraid to go with you! I don't trust you!!!" The boy of 9 ran away from the guy of about 18 years of age. But the 18-year-old guy was able to catch the boy.
"I don't like you! Stay away from me!!!"
"Listen to me! If you want to go back to earth you will have to cooperate with me! We'll get out of this hell together! All I need is your cooperation."
"No!!"
"Please! I want to go back to earth! I will take you with me! I know that you came from there too!! I will save you!"
The little boy cries. "Mama… papa… Yangtze…"
"It's will be all right. I will take you back to China. Just trust me. I'm your friend."
"Who…who are you?"
"Gerlain. Now let's get out of this place! I don't want to be a slave of Dornkirk anymore!"
(End of flashback)
Go to hell Dornkirk… go to hell… those people of
Fanelia did nothing to save us… I shall get my hands on you soon enough… Lord
Van… I hate you… I despise of you… people are so blind… they are so blind! Hwang
Ho looks at Hitomi who was looking at the view with an impassive look on her
face. Hitomi… if you only knew…