Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny
Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny
It is a period of rest, training, and thought as Van, Hitomi, Kirei and Rallin ponder the meaning of their destinies, after travelling to the Mystic Valley and meeting Varie and Folken Fanel there. Hitomi is faced with the choice of staying with Van but leaving behind her family forever. In turn, Van decides that it is the right time to ask the question...
[AN: Okay, whenever I mentioned the whole timeline thing... screw it. The way I write these with the cliffhangers, they are a continuous stream of events so forget the time thing. Although like the series, this is (hopefully) happening over a course of a few months. Also, I'm sending EVERYONE back to Palas. And as I mentioned in the first chapter of "Separate Paths" my Gaean geography is somewhat messed up so don't worry. Also... I added up the total number of pages this would actually take up and it's... 160-something. *Grins Sheepishly* each chapter is at LEAST 7 pages so... I could've made a book out of this. (Seriously. It's like a paperback length fanfiction.) To think that if this were ANYTHING else I would've thought a 10-page story was long. It's got NOTHING on this.]
"Van..." Hitomi said softly, surprised by the question, and somewhat flustered as to how to answer; though she knew what she needed to say - it just wouldn't come out. Surely, there was still sadness inside of her knowing that she would never see her family again. That she would never go back. But Gaea was her home now - despite all the sadness, she knew she couldn't be whole without having Van.
Van taking Hitomi's hesitation as both a refusal and a goodbye was about to stand up. "It's alright Hitomi, you don't have to say yes..."
"What?" He thought she was going to say no? Oh dear. Hitomi quickly corrected her mistake by standing up as well, and tugging his sleeve to make him face her. "Van... you know I love you more than anything. Of course I will marry you! It will make me the happiest person on either of our worlds." Hitomi smiled, tears of joy filling her eyes. She was really and truly going to be with Van forever...
"You will?" Van's eyes had lit up with happiness, and suddenly Hitomi found herself in his arms. "I love you Hitomi. And soon you will be with me forever - nothing will separate us ever again, I promise. I won't be so foolish as to let you go."
"Me neither," she whispered, just glad that she was in his arms... and that nothing would tear them apart.
"I'm very glad little Brother finally decided to ask. It certainly would've saved a lot of time."
"Hush Folken. What would it have saved?" Varie looked at her son with a smile. "But, yes, I am glad that he asked. They do make a cute couple."
"Mother!"
"What is it? They do. And I am also very glad that we have been granted permission to watch them through this."
"As am I. But I'll be sad to leave the Mystic Valley once this is over."
"It IS for the good of Gaea - for all we know we could be here weeks or days."
"You're right."'
Rallin pulled off the duelling mask and bowed to the knight. It had been a good match, and had lasted. Although he doubted that the Asturian would be up to another duel - with Kirei this time. Still, it really was up to Allen whether he wanted to fight right after, as he HAD said he would fight both soldiers.
"Good fight, Khristos." Kirei had walked into the fighting area, and smirked at Rallin. "Now why is it that OUR matches never last as long?"
"You're too predictable."
"Humph." Kirei turned to face Allen, who too, had pulled off the mask. He was sweating, but he was also breathing more heavily that Rallin. "Perhaps you would like a break before our match?" Allen nodded. "Very well. In the meantime..."
"I'll duel with you." Rallin smirked. "Perhaps we will have a worthwhile match this time?"
At Kirei's nod, the rest of the people in the training area gaped. Rallin was going to duel - again - after an hour-long fight? And Kirei... he was going to duel after a series of smaller matches against weaker opponents? They didn't even look tired...
"When do we begin?" asked Kirei.
"Whenever you decide to put the mask on."
30 seconds later another duel had begun, fast, hard, and furious - but silent between the two swordsmen.
***
Van and Hitomi were still in their room, she still in his embrace, with his arms. And both with a sense of contentment. A few minutes later...
"We should tell the others." Hitomi said softly, "Too, and we must start looking."
Van nodded in agreement, though all he wished he could do is stay in the afterglow of the proposal forever. There had always been a bond between them, but now it seemed that their love and the promise of staying together forever had strengthened in two-fold.
"Van?" Hitomi asked, wondering what he was thinking in his silence. "Is there anything the matter?"
He looked at, his ruby eyes shining with a happiness Hitomi had rarely seen. "Of course not. I just wish we could stay like this forever..."
"As do I. But we should still..." Before she could say another word, Van's lips covered hers again. Hitomi sighed blissfully. They could tell them in a moment.
Allen gaped at the speed in which Kirei and Rallin were duelling. And he was certainly not the only one. The trainees that came from Asturia and Freid watched in amazement at the two soldiers. An outsider would never have been able to tell what each man was about to do, although between Kirei and Rallin, they always predicted each other's next move. Which was why the match was had such a fast pace.
Of course, this meant that quietly, when their blades met Rallin and Kirei would hiss insults at each other to spur the other person on.
"Nice job Khristos - too bad you've done it against me a thousand times before." Kirei smiled. He swung his blade only to have it meet Rallin's.
"As was that, Fanel," he sneered, blocking the attack and feinting forward. "Too bad you never mastered that particular skill."
"You mean using a sword? If I haven't then you haven't either." Kirei stepped back, avoiding the oncoming strike and easily parrying it with a forward attack of his own.
"Perhaps," said Rallin, locking his sword with Kirei's again, "but I am bored of this. There's no point. Neither of us is going to win."
"Perhaps fighting against my cousin would be a challenge."
Without another word, their fight stopped.
Just as Van and Hitomi entered the room.
***
Hitomi laughed at all the faces of the people around her as they entered the training arena. They all looked so stunned? Whatever could have happened to make all these people...
Hitomi laughed as she looked towards the centre of area. There, looking at each other rather dispassionately, were Kirei and Rallin.
She turned to face Van, who, too, had a grin on his face. They way that Kirei and Rallin duelled certainly tended to surprise people. In fact, the way any of them duelled, including Van, and occasionally Hitomi (if she wished to practice defence) tended to confound everyone. The only reason being, that aside from the clang of blade against blade, they were utterly silent.
And amazingly fast. They had all been fast learners, Hitomi and Van being the fastest. He could still remember when they were in the forest that one night, before they had again met up with Allen and the others.
:: Flashback ::
"I want you to teach me how to fight, Van." Hitomi's voice was serious as they she watched him practice, each movement fluid and flowing into the next.
Van stopped, surprised. "Why would you ever need to Hitomi? I'll be there to-"
Hitomi interrupted him, her voice sincere. "Van, I know you will do anything to ensure my protection, and for that I love you and thank you. But I refuse to be one of those people who can't protect themselves."
"Hitomi..."
"Van, please? I promise to be careful. And cautious. I'll learn the sword, to protect myself. Once we are in a proper city I'll have a blade of my own wrought." She paused, and took a breath, "And I-"
Van grinned, and, putting his sword down, pulled Hitomi close. "If you wish to, than I shall teach you the art of the sword." He bent to pick up his blade, and gently placed it into her hands, noting she gripped it correctly - perhaps instinctively. "This is the guard position..."
The lessons went on late into the night.
:: End Flashback ::
And indeed, over their journey she had become skilled - though she never had a chance to show it unless someone had been kind enough to lend their blade. But now that they were in a city, a place that had a smithy where they could obtain a blade, she would have one. And even better - to Van, at least - now that they were betrothed, her blade would have Fanelia's crest on its hilt - as his did.
He looked at Hitomi, his smile widening slightly as he noted her garments. She had given up the short (by Gaean terms) skirt and the linen shirt for a soft pair of dark forest green pants, and a silver-trimmed emerald tunic that fit her snugly, and matched the shade of her eyes. It looked as if she was wearing a long, tailored shirt of a noble. It was not unlike clothing from the Mystic Moon, Hitomi explained, which was why she chose it. Many of her things had changed too - well, the bag that they were held in.
Over the course of a few days, Hitomi had transferred much of her things to a leather carry-sack, a shoulder bag that, Van remembered, she had received from Millerna as a "welcome back" present, Hitomi had changed all of her outward appearances, until she looked like... well she looked like a normal person. Like a Gaean. Still, before they left to search for the Gateway, they would get Hitomi a blade.
But first... perhaps a duel. They hadn't participated in one of those in a while.
***
Kirei and Rallin bowed, grinning, as Van Fanel and Hitomi Kanzaki entered the area. The King and his Lady were certainly not ones that would deign from participating, even in duelling. Van was surely one of the best swordsmen on Gaea, and Hitomi was progressing very quickly to the point where her skills would soon be at par with theirs.
They, all three, were her protectors now, they supposed, though it was not through obligation but from admiration, trust, and faith in her. When Rallin and Kirei had found out Hitomi wanted to learn the sword, and also that Van was teaching her, they too, offered to help. She could hold her own against any of them in a fair match, and all that was left was to obtain a blade for her. She was strong, strong as any of them, perhaps not needing their protection but glad it was there just the same.
They straightened at the replying smile from the pair, who curtseyed (Hitomi) and gave a nod (Van). All four were now in the centre of the ring, looking at each other as if formulating a plan.
Hitomi started. "We do have something to speak to you about," she said, "and to all of you as well. But that can come later. Perhaps a duel? Rallin? Kirei?"
Van smiled in agreement. "Yes, if you two aren't worn out, I would like a duel with both."
Hitomi nodded, complacently, "And afterwards we can head to the smithy. So whom against whom?"
"I," said Rallin, "against Van."
With a nod, and Hitomi and Kirei retreating to the spectator's area, the duel began.
An hour later, the four them, as well as the Schezars, Chid, and Millerna and Dryden were in the Palas marketplace, fanning out to the booths to each purchase what they needed or wanted to buy.
Hitomi would be sad to leave her friends and the peace that came with being here, but they did have a mission to complete, a war to end.
A world to save.
And it could not involve anyone but their four any longer. It must not. Though she shared them with no one but Van, and even that was rare, she saw visions of all them dying in battle if they were going to be allowed to come to the battlefield, the last fight for Gaea's future, the Battle of the Gateway.
After splitting up, Allen and Celena to the docks to see the Crusade, and Millerna and Dryden to just visit with the people, Van and Hitomi went towards the smithy, and Rallin and Kirei towards the food stalls, knowing that their journey and trials were about to begin - and they wanted to be prepared.
They met up again a few hours later, Hitomi smiling, and Van with an expression of happiness on his features. They had found her a sword, one that was lightweight and tempered with a crystal and steel alloy, with two sharp edges. Like Van's, the sword had the crest of Fanelia - though no one could see it - yet. Apart from the green scabbard, all that one could see of Hitomi's blade was the hilt - gold and emerald, as Van's was ruby and gold.
They met up and, at the gates of the castle, they looked at each other. The Dragon, Keeper, Eagle and Raven knew that they had to leave - and the Dragon and Keeper also had something else to reveal before they left.
***
"We have an announcement," said Hitomi very carefully, sure that everyone was listening. "The last battle... we are very grateful for your help for all of this, you must know that."
"But," interjected Van, "there is a danger in you trying to help us look for the final factor in all of this, one that may end in your deaths should you come. We are asking for your blessings with our leave."
Allen was about to protest, but it was the voice of Dryden that stopped him. "We understand. Please take our wishes for your victory and safety with you. And, please send us word of how you are doing when the battle is finished."
Millerna smiled sadly. "We'll miss you. But I know we'll see you again. When do you leave?"
"In a day," said Hitomi. "But we do have something else to tell you. All of you, including Kirei and Rallin."
Kirei raised an eyebrow. He had thought that all that needed to be told had been said. So what was left? He received his answer after a few moments, during which his cousin drew Hitomi close to his side.
"After the war," said Van, "Hitomi and I... we are betrothed. Once the war is over, we will marry."
The announcement was left with six faces gaping at them.
Hello Everyone!
This chapter took me a bit to get out, stuff I needed to clear with my head, and the next one won't even get started for a while since I got a TON of homework. -_-. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, and from the looks of it... you guys really don't seem to want to know about Kirei and Rallin.
Well I don't know. I only have one review on it, which is great (since it means someone read it) but I'd REALLY, REALLY like you to read it, and give it a chance. I'm proud of the series, and the plot, although Episode 2 for "Separate Paths" won't be out that soon either.
I hope you keep reading and reviewing,
Angelic1090
04.27.2001
[Who has an astounding amount of homework and will not be writing much this week as a consequence. -_-]
