Chapter 14
The group walked outside and was greeted by a snow filled valley, no signs of inhabitants. 'But what about my vision? I was in some kind of temple'? Hitomi's mind filled with questions that no one could answer except time.
"Ah Van, Princess Hitomi! How kind of you to join me on this fine day!" an old man in a cloak walked forward.
"Who are you"? Van asked, getting extremely agitated.
"My name is Sir Isaac Newton, I was born on the Mystique Moon or as I know it Earth. But in when I was on death's door I managed to leave Earth and start a new life on Gaea as Emperor Dornkirk." he declared.
"You're from the Mystique Moon"?! Hitomi whispered
"Yes young lady, I wish to rule Gaea and as long as I have you under my control you'll help me" Dornkirk laughed.
"What makes you think I'll help you"?
"Because I have something you want" and with a snap of his fingers a sword was pointed at Van's neck. Sighing in defeat Hitomi said,
"Fine"
"Well what are you waiting for? Open the gate!"
"What?"
"You think this is the Mystique Valley?! The place where the Draconians were said to live?! You need to wish for it to be shown to us." Dornkirk yelled.
"Fine you crazy old coot" Hitomi gave an exasperated sigh and held out her pendant. 'Please show us the mystique Valley.' Sure enough the sky tore apart, the hole was lined with a golden ring with designs on it, and they began to suck them all in with a powerful wind...
When Hitomi looked around she was no longer surrounded by the frozen plane.
No, she was in some kind of room; it had the same patterns as the temple her vision had taken place in. Except it was someone's bedroom, with a huge king size bed. The bed spread was embroidered with white patters that seemed to
spill out everywhere. There was a window right across from the bed, the curtains were long and flowing and matched the spread. In the corner was a changing stall, and right of it was a doorway with no door that lead to a huge bathroom. Just like the room, it was a blinding white. And to the opposite wall was another door, the exit. In an instant her love came to
mind. Van. 'Where could he be? Was he taken to a room like me, or killed?' she shuddered at the thought of never seeing him again. Hitomi knew she'd kill herself if Van died. Using her mind she tried to concentrate on where he was. She could faintly sense him a few rooms from hers, he was unconscious.
But where was Dornkirk? Again Hitomi searched and found that he and his group had not been brought here but to some other part of the Mystique Valley. With a sigh of relief Hitomi began to plan how to get out of the white room. As is an answer to her prayer, the door shot open. For the first time she noticed she was wearing a white robe and was bare foot. 'The vision' her mind figured and stepped out of the room. It was the same hall she had traveled down in her vision! As softly as she walked down the hall, it still gave a resounding sound as she walked. It seemed like she had been walking for a half an hour until she reached a circular chamber at the end. She was here. "Take courage" she said to no one. Shakily she took a step forward but was meet by a flash of bright light. Like that, Hitomi lost consciousness.
"Urgh, where am I"? Hitomi blinked her eyes trying to figure out where the hell she was. All she saw was space, endless space that she was floating on. Without her wings! There in the distance was none other than Varie Fanel, Van's mother.
"Hello Kanzaki Hitomi. Welcome to the Astral Plane" she smiled lovingly.
"What's the 'Astral Plane'?" Hitomi asked.
"It's a place where time and place don't matter. Right now you're not in your body, this is your spirit. It's a place where the living and dead can catch up to one another. Listen I've come to tell you of a prophecy. It was written in ancient Atlantian writing, but I still have trouble translating it to plain Gaean so I'll just tell you what it basically means.
A time shall come to pace where a dark cloud hovers over Gaea's future making everything shrouded in mist. Two people completely opposite yet they have so much in common, will fall in love. The seeress and the Dragon. And upon realization of this love, nothing will stand in the way of their mission to save Gaea's future. The seeress shall join with the most powerful energy in the universe and will be unstoppable"
"So I'm the seeress and Van's the Dragon" Hitomi pondered.
"Yes child, no go now and merge with the power. When the hour strikes midnight then will be the time to join with it, good bye Hitomi." And like that the stars panorama began to fade and the green-eyed girl was brought back to Gaea.
Again Hitomi opened her eyes, but this time she was on that pedestal, with moonlight shining down illuminating her, and leaving the rest of the room in shadows.
"Damnit." she cursed under her breath. "What time is it?" she asked, though she knew she'd never get an answer. That's when she noticed the ropes binding her body. "Can't leave" she squirmed her body so she could look at the night sky. It was almost midnight. That's when she notice the pedestal was aligned perfectly so that when it was midnight, she'd be completely bathed in light. Only the tips of her toes couldn't be seen. "Won't be long now". And so she waited for about
a minute and she was fully aglow. Then without notice, her body began to glow an eerie blue. It lasted for only a few seconds, but to Hitomi it seemed to stand for eternity. Then it was gone, like it had never been there in the first place. And mysteriously her bindings and been burned through. Gleefully she got up; thinking the whole thing was all hype and no action. She was wrong. The whole place began to shake with no mercy. Debris began to fall in gigantic chunks, blocking her way. She only had one chance make it to the hall. With speed she had no idea she had, she ran. But a loud sound signaled that the ceiling would not hold for long. Hitomi dove head first, barely missing the rock. The hallway was in no better condition, if not worse than. That's when she saw him. Her heart skipped a beat. There was Van, standing in the middle of it all. Looking frantically around for some way out. "VAN" Hitomi called out. He looked over to see her, but he didn't see the debris about to land on him. As if time stopped, Hitomi looked around to realize time had indeed stopped. Only one thing could explain it. Her power. 'It must have the power to do this. But I have to save Van'! Without hesitation she ran and shoved him out of the way. As soon as her arm touched him, time started to speed up and she was barely able to push him out of the way. She place her body on his back to protect him. When the dust had cleared Hitomi finally rolled over breathing a sigh of relief.
"Hitomi are you alright I was so worried" Van embraced her tightly, kissing her cheek, neck and began to rub her head, forcing it into the crook of his neck.
"I'm fine Van" she said, touched by his kindness "But we have to get out of here!" Van stood up and offered his hand to help her up. Soon after, the pair began to run through the halls in a search of someway out, Hitomi's robe barely touching the floor. After what seemed like 10 minutes they finally reached the exit.
The Mystique Moon caused the sky to light up, and a waterfall could be heard in the distance. Van would have loved to stay there and looked around and enjoy the surroundings with Hitomi (A.N Who was wearing a very revealing gown that had a low neck line. Needless to say he'd just LOVE to look at her all day) but they had to get out of there.
"Hitomi, what happened back there? How'd you get the power?"
"Easy" Hitomi said, stopping to sit by the waterfall on a log "I was bathed in light and now I have the power" she explained as Van sat down next to her too.
"We better get some rest if we want to get out of here tomorrow." Van said.
"Fine Van" Hitomi slipped of the log and laid down at the base, warily Van joined her and placed his arms around her. Hitomi sighed, enjoying the feeling of bliss as she felt her need for sleep overcome all senses. She nuzzled closer to Van for warmth and soon the two lovers were asleep in each other's arms...
Hitomi was shoved awake by a pair of sleek material gloves. Needless to say she wanted to kill who did it. But since she was half-asleep she tried to go back to bed. But an evil laugh told her mind that this was no time to sleep. As fast as she could, she opened her eyes. It was still night out, but there was a huge bonfire in front of her. And there behind it, illuminated by the glow of the embers, was Dornkirk. While she had been sleeping they had been captured. She looked over and saw that Van was still asleep, that or they had knocked him unconciouss.
"Van" she cried out, tears swelling in her eyes
"He'll recieve worse than this if you don't follow our orders" Dilandau sneared.
"Fine I'll do it! Just don't hurt him" Tears flew off her face and she shook her head.
"Foolish girl! Agreeing with me and not even knowing the consequences or conditions. Foolish" He sneered.
"If It's for Van, It must be worth it."
"We want you to take over the world for me. We'll travel all over Gaea and bring down the nations one by one until the world is all mine" Dornkirk closed his eyes, deep in concentration
"Ugh! You pathetic piece of God Damn shit" she swore under her breath. "Fine, I'll do it" she sighed. 'I'm so sorry'
"Good we leave right now! It doesn't matter that you and the dragon have joined. Were still going to rule the new world HAHAHAHA" He laughed and with a swift nod signaled for the Dragon Slayers to bring Hitomi and the unconscious
Van onto their leviship. One of them wore a dark blue cloak. But was that a bit of light blond hair? Yes it was, falling gently into his face. But was it a man? A glimmer of blue could be seen through the darkness that shrouded his face. As that mysterious soldier led Hitomi away, he delivered a sharp blow to the head.
"Sir, I'll bring her aboard." It was a voice trying to sound masculine.
"Very well."
Hitomi woke with a pounding headache. Without even opening her eyes she could tell that she was on a wagon, sitting on itchy hay.
"What the hell" but was silenced by a women with pale blond hair and shining blue eyes, Celena Schezar. "Celen-"
"Hitomi, glad to see you're still in one piece. It looks like you still need my help with escaping, huh?" She questioned, her opponents words dripped with sarcasm.
"Yeah, I'll never get tired of that." she closed her eyes "Where's Van?" she was answered by a groan to her left as a hay covered figure rose to a sitting position.
"Where are we Hitomi? Celena, is that you?" Van asked, slightly bewildered
"Nice to see you Van"
"How'd we get out of Dornkirk's slimey clutches" Hitomi finally asked.
"I just knocked out one of his 'Special Assasins Core' members and took his clothes. Figured you'd need help and got you out of there. Right about know Dornkirk baby just realized your gone... We've been one the road for 5 hours" Celena explained.
"So where are we headed"? Van wanted to know this question.
"Basram. If we fallow this river we'll make it by night fall" And so they made there way across plains, towards the Capital of Basram."
"Welcome to my Kingdom, Lord Van, Lady Hitomi and Lady Celena! You are welcome to stay here as long as you like as enemies of Zaibach we are allies." a jaunty man said. He wore a purple cape and a green tunic with shiny gold toggles. He was King Adame Basram.
"Thank you for having us" Van said, praying he wouldn't see Debora.
"OH VANEEE" came a long and irritating holler, a few moments later a girl with orange hair wearing a long pink puffy dress came bounding down the staircase into Van's arms. "Oh, I'm so glad your here! Please come and tell me you've decided to marry me." Tears of happiness fell down her eyes.
"Excuse me but Van's marrying me" Hitomi gave her a death glare, telling her to back off.
"WHAT! A scrawny runt like you! Marrying a gorgeous King like him?! I highly doubt that" she mocked, pointing her nose in the air.
"I'm sorry princess Debora, but I am marrying Princess Hitomi" Van said and then Debora turned and fled, and you could hear her sobbing all through the place.
"I'm so sorry, I'll send a servant to show you to your rooms" Kind Basram said and a maid in a white dress ran over to them.
"I'll take you to your rooms now"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hours Later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunset. Hitomi laid in her bed, thinking about Zaibach. How could she defeat them? If they got a hold of Van then they'd be able to control her again! It wasn't fair! Sighing she turned on her stomach. There was only one way out of this. Use her powers and destroy Zaibach. They wouldn't expect it! All she had to do was fly over and blow it up! Only problem is it could kill her, and she had no idea what her limits were! But it was the only way to keep everyone safe from harm. Sighing she stood up and pulled off her night gown and switched into her pants and shirt and hurried out of her room in
search of her fiancé, Van.
Silently, she creeped through the halls. She had to see him one more time before her suicide mission. And tell him just how much he meant to her. Finally Hitomi found Van's door and opened it. There Van was, lying on the bed, under the thick covers.
"Van...?" Hitomi asked, her voice barely over a whisper, instantly the lump under the covers rose and the covers fell off him to reveal him half-naked. Hitomi blushed and walked in and sat next to him and laid her head on his lap.
"Hitomi is something wrong"? he asked. She shook her head, no.
"I love you" she whispered again
"I love you too Hitomi, your the only girl for me" now they were kissing passionately and Hitomi lost track of what she was supposed to do. Soon she was completely nude under the covers...
"Hum" Hitomi mumbled, finally waking to be greeted by Van's sleeping face. He looked so peaceful, like a sleeping child, so innocent. "I'm sorry Van" Hitomi said and stood up and tucked Van in. Quietly, she got dressed but before she left she kissed Van on the forehead and left Van to his dreams.
The night air was cool on her arms as Hitomi walked upon the roof of the Basram castle. She'd definitely rather be in bed with Van now! She pulled her shirt over her head and let her wings span out to their full potential.
Without a second's notice she rose into the air and took off in the direction of Zaibach. She was only flying for a few hours when she saw it. The dark outline of a Zaibach fleet. The Gold, Bronze, Silver and (A.N I have no idea what the other's name is, e-mail it to me) all waiting to attack Basram. Halting in mid air Hitomi assessed the situation. 'This is all of Zaibach's Forces so if I take them out here, there will be nothing for them to fall back on' Quickly she awakened her power, it was very slow at first but soon she felt pain radiating from her body. She would die so Gaea could live with a free will. In the end it would be worth it, she reassured herself. The air around her began to glow a bright white incasing her in a sphere of energy. Hitomi put her hands up and allowed a ball of the white to form in her hands. Without warning she allowed it to release. After that everything was a blur as she fell to the ground. This time there was no angel to save her. But she did not fear the end, no. Hitomi had accepted that she would die for all the inhabitants of Gaea. Her only regret was she never spent enough time with the man she loved. The ground began to near as the young, green-eyed angel plummeted to her death with a small smile on her lips.
A/N: Wouldn't you hate me if I ended here?
Van looked around the rubble that was once known as Zaibach. He sighed. Hitomi had left him the night before and he hoped she wasn't gone for good. There was no sight of her, but he knew she had something to do with being woken up by a page in the middle of the night. To his left he heard a small groan and a shifting of rooks as a dusty figure emerged from the pile of wreckage.
"Where am I?" she asked. Van's heart skipped a beat. There was Hitomi, all scratched up but what mattered was that she was safe. He rushed over and held her and he felt her bury her head in his shirt.
"Hitomi how could you leave me in the middle of the night! You could have been seriously hurt" Van whispered to her as he rocked her back and forth. Just the though of losing her made Van's heart ache. "We should get back to the castle now and get you cleaned up" Hitomi was just able to nod her head.
~Hitomi's mind~
Everything was a blur to Hitomi. She remembered falling to her doom, then out of no where came an angel with black wings! Black wings? That could only mean the draconian was dying. Hitomi felt the man of 25 pick her up and carry her towards the ground gently and lay her down.
"I'm truly sorry for the pain I have caused you and my brother. I now know that Dornkirk was wrong" Folken Lacour de Fanel bowed his head in regret and shame. He barely lifted his head in time to see her fall over and pass out.
Van had brought Hitomi to the healers and hour ago, and because he was a guy he wasn't allowed in. But the head healer had explained she had wounds on her chest so they'd have to strip her down and that was the real reason. So patiently he waited outside of the oak door.
Finally for what seemed like forever, a nurse finally walked out of the room.
"She's going to be just fine" she reassured the young king. "You may go in now." and stepped aside allowing Van to see Hitomi laying on a cot with white blankets up to her chin.
"Oh Hitomi." Within a second he was by her side holding her cold hand. "Please wake up." he begged, feeling tears come to his eyes. Suddenly an unknown being stepped in front of the doorway, blocking some of the light.
"Van..." His head shot up, he recognized that voice
"What are you doing here traitor?!" Van demanded, glaring at Folken, his older brother. How dare he come here after what Folken had done!
"Van I resigned from Zaibach 24 hours before this incident. I'm the only reason Hitomi's not dead! She was falling and I saved her." Folken argued. Van always jumped to conclusions. But then again didn't he have a reason? But did that justify Van's reasoning? Who really knew? Folken just wanted to be there for his baby brother. He knew how Van felt for the seeress.
"Why should I believe you"? The youth shot back
"Fine, ask Hitomi when she-ah she's waking up right now" Folken kept his temper in check and motioned towards the unconscious angel.
"Hitomi!" Van said, immediately turning his attention towards his love
"Van"! She flung her arms around her neck and sobbed. Finally the silence was too much and Hitomi pulled away from Van's embrace. "Folken thank you for catching me" Hitomi smiled "This war is over, Issace's dead, no more trouble"
"Really! We can return to Fanelia!" It was easy to tell that Van was overjoyed "Folken," he got up and walked over and stood in front of his brother. "Thank you for rescuing my fiancé, you are welcome in Fanelia as its prince" Van smiled and hugged his brother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~One Week Later ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey miss you can't go in there" a young maid called out as a orange and pink blur ran by, nearly knocking her over
"Try and stop me" the familiar character called back. Deciding it would be much quicker she lept on four feet and ran down the halls of the Basram Castle towards the healers chambers. Finally her ocean blue eyes spotted her childhood friend. "Lord Van!" she yelled. He turned around as a ball of fur smacked into him.
"Merle"! Van whined and let her down "You're just in time to meet my fiancé." Van said as a beautiful figure walked down the staircase. Her sandy brown hair tied up into a ponytail, she wore brown pants with an emerald Fanelian-styled shirt. Her evergreen eyes shone with familiarity.
"Hitomi" Merle cried out and launched herself at her friend "I knew you'd fall in love with Lord Van, I knew it!"
"Yes Merle you were right" Folken came right behind her.
"Lord F-Folken"?
"Yes, Merle." he sighed, right before the cat girl jumped in his arms and licked him. Van sighed, finally he had a family." Hitomi and I are gonna head out on Escaflowne. You two can take a leviship to Fanelia and get reaquainted." Van said and grabbed Hitomi's hand and dragged her towards where the sleeping Dragon laid. He and his companion jumped on it and within seconds rode off in the opposite direction of Fanelia...
The End
Finally finished, and now for my excuse on why I'm so slow with updating. My parents. I swore in front of my little brother and got kicked off the computer for a month! A WHOLE DAMN MONTH! So in the mornings I had to sneak on and write this. I almost got caught once or twice too! Also I had trouble with the stupid Damn ff.net posting thingy and had to get a friend to tell me how to post things the NEW way! URGH! Anyway the Epilogue will be out soon. I will be re-posting everything, and I mean EVERYTHING! Because of my horrible computer typing skills. In truth I'm the best speller in my entire school, but I have very little computer typing skills and since I've been spelling everything in French the past year so my English is getting worse, is that possible? Bye!
Artamis Godess of the Hunt