Episode Nine: Golden Key, Risky Destiny

Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Van and Hitomi share their dreams and doubts over the finding the second key, while they are headed to Freid. As they arrive there, talk between our trio and Chid about the key commences... All the while, Goshem is advancing on Freid.


Van brought Escaflowne's sword down harshly on one of the Goshemin guymelefs. It was not one of the melefs from the Fanelian attack, or the key, but it was still from Goshem, and that was his enemy. Although Van was placing most of his attention on destroying or defeating the guymelefs, part of his thoughts were with Hitomi - and the key. Van hoped with all his heart that she wouldn't go after it until this battle was over - but he also knew that Hitomi had realized there was danger in waiting. Still, Van prayed, that if she did go, she would not get hurt. He wouldn't know what to do without her.


In Ikari, Kirei was fighting the Goshem guymelefs just as valiantly, but half of his mind was searching for the black guymelef. For Rallin. He had to... Kirei wasn't sure what had to be done. There were things to be reconciled, things to be done but for now... He had to fight.


Hitomi didn't want to run through the carnage that lay before her eyes. But she knew she had to. For Van. For Gaea. She had to get that key. Closing her eyes, and praying to the gods that she would not die, Hitomi braced herself. And ran.

The minute Hitomi set off, the pendant flared, as did Escaflowne's breast-jewel. Van realizing this, knew Hitomi had left. She was going after the key, and, gods, did he pray nothing should harm her. His love had a lot of luck, she came out of the last war unscathed, so she would be fine this time, right? Van closed his eyes for the briefest moment, and an image of where Hitomi was came to him. Hitomi, please be safe. Please be alright, at the end of this battle. His words went with his love, as she ran for the future, the peaceful future, of Gaea.

Hitomi heard Van's words in her mind, and, though she didn't close her eyes, thoughts of the past war, of her confusion of love, of Van, ran through her mind. There was something strangely familiar about the war this time... why Goshem was attacking. And what Zaibach's ultimate goal, and use for her had been. Hitomi nearly came to a stop as she realized the conclusion in a blinding flash. But her legs knew to keep running, and so she did. Me. And Fate. Both these wars, they were based on Fate. And both times... the enemy... they fought for... me. Tears filled her eyes, and she remembered the destruction caused because Zaibach had wanted her. She nearly hurt Van... and Hitomi didn't want to do that. But in this war, it was because of her. She was the Keeper of the Keys, and Goshem wanted the keys, would kill for the keys, had killed for the keys. And now they were battling for both the golden key, and Hitomi's life. If I die... there would be no more battles, thought Hitomi, and Van wouldn't get hurt. Making up her mind, she had tears in her eyes as she said what might be her last goodbye to Van. I'm so sorry, Van. Good-bye. Hitomi neared the jade lion, her fate, assumingly, she thought, set for her.


"She's going after the key!" This was Venti, one of the Ebony Clan Warriors, saying this to the lead guymelef. The black guymelef. Their group had been after Hitomi all along, not Freid. Repeating himself, Venti said, "Lord Rallin, the Keeper is going after the second key!"

"Then what are you waiting for you lot, Venti, go AFTER her!" Rallin's voice came out blaringly clear.

"But Lord Rallin what about..." Woarin's voice asked this timidly.

"I'm COMING. Move!" With this command, the ten Warriors, with Rallin in the lead, headed straight for Hitomi.


As soon as Van heard Hitomi's goodbye, Kirei noticed the black guymelef, streaking in the sky straight towards... Hitomi? Although Kirei did not go after them for the sake of the woman, he DID want to fight the black guymelef - if it saved the woman his cousin loved, good for the purpose.

Van was stunned still by Hitomi's goodbye. Why had she said it? Did this mean she was going to... No. Van couldn't lose her again, Van wouldn't lose her again. He couldn't handle it. He recovered quickly, only to notice that the ten guymelefs from Fanelia's attack were heading straight for the jade lion. Straight for Hitomi. Van followed, both to save Hitomi... and to find out what was wrong with her.

Hitomi was only a few feet away from the lion when the guymelefs surrounded her. She shut her eyes tightly. She had to do this, even if it meant her death. Ignoring the guymelefs, she sprinted towards the statue, the key appearing. She grabbed it just as a huge blast of fire hit the spot where she was.

"Van!!" her scream sounded as the fire engulfed the statue - and Hitomi.


"Hitomi!! NO!!!" Van had seen the blast, but he couldn't go through it, no matter how much he needed to reach Hitomi. His own death would not help anyone. When the blast cleared, the melefs were gone. And so was his cousin, presumably, to fight that black guymelef. But Van had to find Hitomi...

He leapt out of Escaflowne's cockpit, his legs taking him to Hitomi without another thought. Please let her be alright... Suddenly an image of Hitomi's limp body flashed before his eyes. Don't let her be dead... Eyes frantic, he reached Hitomi. "Oh gods..."

Hitomi lay near the statue, the key beside her shining on the ground. Van picked up the key, pocketing it, and then bent beside Hitomi. She had been knocked into the statue by the force of the blast... and she had been burned. But she wasn't waking up... And that worried Van.

"Hitomi?" Van shook her gently, careful to mind her wounds. Why wasn't she waking up? "Hitomi??" This was more urgent, and suddenly he had a sinking feeling... Hands shaking he checked her pulse... he couldn't find it. "No, Hitomi. No. Please you can't be dead..." Van's eyes filled with grief and shock and he lay his head on her chest, not noticing the pendant's steady glow. He closed his eyes, tears spilling. "Hitomi..."

Suddenly, it felt and looked as though he was engulfed in light, and Van fainted, his arms around Hitomi's limp body.


[AN: In the episode of Escaflowne, when Hitomi goes to where Van is after his "death" to save him, it was, to me, where Van's ancestors came from. This is sort of the same thing, only roles are reversed. So, to say in literally, Hitomi and Van's spirits are now where Hitomi came from - Tokyo. Anything italized (like this) is Hitomi and Van sequence, plain font is outside their consciousness.]

Where was he? Van had no idea what had happened, just that he had to find Hitomi... That was his mission. He had promised to be with her forever, and he would. No matter what. Van looked around himself. He had never seen buildings like that, so tall with glass and metal. In fact, he had never seen a place like this anywhere on Gaea before. Gaea. Van looked up at the sky. One moon. One. It was closer than it was on Gaea... but then this meant. Van was on the Mystic Moon.

With that one piece of information, many things dawned on Van. He seemed to be elevated in the sky. But he wasn't flying, he was standing. He peered over the edge of what he was standing on. He gasped when he saw how high he was off the round. This was over two guymelefs in height...

And there were still buildings even taller! Suddenly, in a flat clearing in the forest of buildings, he spied a familiar figure, sitting on... a chair, a LONG chair, but why would a chair (and such a long one at that) be outside? He shook his head. But how was he going to get down from the roof he was standing? Even for a soldier, Van could not jump down that far, and still be alright. But Van had another option besides jumping. Taking his white shirt off, he spread his wings, and flew quickly over to the silhouette - to Hitomi.


Allen looked around, confused. The troop of the blue guymelefs - and the one black one - had disappeared. Had they acheived their objective? Had they gotten the key? Before Allen could surmise any further, he was snapped back to reality as another of the rest of the Goshemin guymelefs launched itself at Scherezade.


Van sat beside her, looking at her still form, and wondering what possibly could have gone wrong. His Hitomi was so happy and strong most of the time... so what had made her to be sent here? This empty world...

"Hitomi?" He sat beside her, wings still spread, although they folded like a dove's, so he could sit somewhat comfortably. "Hitomi, what's wrong?"

"It's all my fault Van..." her voice was so quiet, and it made Van want to pull her closer - so he did. She shivered slightly in his embrace, not noticeably so, but Van felt the small tremble and looked at her lovingly. She repeated herself. "All my fault..."

"What is all your fault Hitomi?" asked Van, wanting to know what had brought her into death.

"This war... all this fighting... you getting hurt. Maybe I should just stay here, to never bring harm or hurt to anyone."

He looked at her, shell shocked. She... Hitomi... She thought it was all her fault? How could she? "Hitomi, nothing is your fault. Do you hear me. Nothing. Humans fight because it is in their blood. And just because you were chosen to be the Keeper, did not give Goshem the right to start this. And hurting me... Hitomi..."

"Van I just don't want to see you hurt. If it means my death than..." she was whispering.

"Hitomi, for five years I have been lonely, never truly complete without you. I love you. Love you. And now that you're back, I'm complete again, I can be truly happy. Don't you realize it would hurt me more than death and the loss of life itself if I had to lose you again?" Van looked at her, tilting her chin up, and kissing her gently. "Hitomi I can't be apart from you. I can't lose you, not again. It is too painful."

"Oh Van..." she had tears in her eyes, and suddenly she was in his arms, sobbing into his chest. "I-I love you too. I won't ever leave you, I promise. We'll be together forever."

He stood up, still embracing her, and spread his white wings again. "Let's go home, Hitomi." And he ascended into the sky, heading towards the bright light - and consciousness.


They woke up together, blinking at the bright light. Van was up first, and then Hitomi, although she gasped in pain, trying to sit up. "The key..." she managed to get out, before taking a deep breath.

"It's right here Hitomi, don't worry." Van showed her the key, then replaced it where it had been - in his pocket. "But you're hurt - we need to get you to a healer."

"Alright," she let Van pick her up, careful to mind where she hurt, and rested her head against his chest, glad that the battles were over - at least for now.


Eep.

Don't hurt me! Please? *Angelic1090 sees a group of angry readers coming towards her...* I didn't WANT to hurt Hitomi, but I couldn't have this whole thing be an easy ride *sees readers' eyes flash in anger* I mean it!!! I love Hitomi, she's my favourite character, but this is WAR people, no one escapes unscathed...

Did you like? Aside from me nearly killing Hitomi that is. I'm not sure if I'm going to introduce anyone new, or make CERTAIN people have more parts, but, again, here is my more poll:

More Kisses and Romance? More Kirei? More Schezars? More Chid? More Rallin? More Rallin and Kirei's past? And the one not MORE, Get Kirei a Girlfriend?

Please tell me in your reviews!

Angelic1090
03.13.2001
Chapter 10 is on its way!