Episode Twenty-Two: Barruchi's End

Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

It is a time of preparation and news as our heroes are about to leave Palas to look for the Gateway. The news of Hitomi and Van's engagement is told much to the surprise of their companions. But when the four leave to search for the gateway, they must leave all the allies and friends they have made and been reunited with - accompanying them will mean their deaths. With hope - and fear - of the oncoming battle, our heroes head off...

[AN: Hello Everyone! I'm REALLY sorry about this, but it looks like my never-ending story is going to go on for more than the predicted 25 episodes. This is because I want to fit in the details exactly and anyway... there's so much conflict to go through! Enjoy!]

// ~ * ~ \\

"So where are we heading?" Kirei yelled to Van and Hitomi, in the lead of the three guymelefs. They had departed from Palas only a few hours ago, and it was still quite dark - they had left under cover of the night. Despite the lack of sleep, all three pilots and Hitomi were awake, focused on their goal - to find the gateway.

All four could remember clearly what they had been told in the Mystic Valley. What their roles were - what could happen.

And also, what would happen.

There was a danger of death certainly - they knew that. There was a large chance that, whatever might happen if Hitomi was able to get to the gateway, that she wouldn't survive - they knew that too. But no matter what their consequences were, and are, they would still complete their task.

***

The man watched as the four settled in, started the fire, and situated themselves around it. The Keeper seemed inclined to especially stay close to the dark haired youth... if he wasn't mistaken, that youth was in truth the King of Fanelia.

It was his mission to destroy them all. The four who would change Gaea's future. He remembered the consequences of what would happen if failed this. He lifted a hand to the band around his neck. Put on by the sorcerers, it was not unlike the crown that Dilandau Albatou had once worn. That, and this necklace, was to keep the person under the control of the changed destiny. Or under control, period. His fate had not been changed.

But his orders had been. His mission... dead or alive, word would return to the Goshem Empire that the deaths of the Keeper, the Dragon, the Eagle, and the Raven had been carried out successfully.

Hikeshi Barruchi was no longer a soldier who would pick his battles, and his enemies.

He was simply a tool sent because he was expendable.

And because he had failed.

// ~ * ~ \\

Adelphus looked at the drawn-up battle plans made to be set in motion once the Gateway revealed itself. They were detailed, and unless some infernal outside force decided to interfere, there should be, no there wasn't any hope that the four of Fate had any chance in winning.

But still, he was not used to... waiting. For the battle to start, for the chance to attack. In that last war, he had been a commander, working under the orders of one higher up... but at least he had the ability and reason to attack!

No. Now he had to wait, whereas before it was his side that controlled when and where the new Fate would appear.

This time, aside from his soldiers, Adelphus had no control at all.

// ~ * ~ \\

The setting around the banked fire was peaceful, the four around it asleep, oblivious of everyone around them. For once, they had forgotten to set up watch, the weariness of flying from dawn till dusk etched in their movements until they slept.

For three of them, it was a dreamless sleep. But for Hitomi...

:: Hitomi's Dream ::

She could see them. It was as if she wasn't in her body, instead, just a floating being with no flesh or substance to claim.

She could see the banked fire, the dimly glowing embers lighting the area around it - about a foot. She spied the three forms around the fire - wait a minute... three? There were four of them...

Oh right.

Hitomi, ever since her return, slept with Van. Not in that way, of course, but she slept beside him and on the Crusade or in a castle, they shared both a room, and a bed. It had become a custom for both of them to fall asleep together, his arm around her, holding her against him until morning. In the beginning, it was to conserve warmth, but now it was because of comfort -

And love.

She smiled at their forms, and let her eyes wander across the clearing, admiring the stillness, looking at the forest when she saw something that definitely wasn't natural.

A glint of silver, a red jewel in the middle of the silver, hung around something. Or someone.

It looked like Dilandau's crown...

It belonged to a man. Hitomi could see the glint of a sword on his waist, the faint curve that meant a bow, and what surely had to contain arrows.

But why? Why was this man hidden in the shadows, armed to...?

No. Hitomi didn't want it to be true. But it was. Was this a vision? A forewarning of their possible deaths meant to show that she could stop it?

If she could just woke up...

Wake up Hitomi! She shouted to herself, asleep in the clearing.

Wake up!

: End Dream ::

Hitomi snapped her eyes open the terror of the man in the shadows fresh in her mind. The dream... it had been real!

She had to warn Van. She had to warn all of them! Wake them up, so that they would not be attacked. She quickly rolled over to Van, not wanting to inform the assassin that she was awake - and the she knew he was there.

"Van," she whispered urgently. "Van."

He blinked his eyes open sleepily at the sound of her voice. She sounded worried. "What is it, Hitomi?" Van asked, wrapping his arm around her, "A bad dream?"

She nodded, and for a moment, buried her face into his soft shirt. "A bad vision. Van, there is an assassin hidden among the trees, waiting... I think he's supposed to kill us."

Van cursed. "We'll have to wake the others." He moved slightly, about to stand, when he felt Hitomi's hand on his, urging him to wait a minute. "What is it, Hitomi?"

"Do it discreetly, Van. If you let him know we know, he might attack."

Van smiled, slightly, proud of the way his Hitomi's mind worked. Yes... they could not let the man know they knew of him, there was a chance they could attack.

Under the guise of getting up sleepily, and moving to check the Escaflowne, which, rather conveniently, was right behind the two lumps that signified Kirei and Rallin, in front of all three guymelefs. Hitomi herself pretended to be asleep, laying very still, but the whole time she was attaching her scabbard to her waist as it usually was while she was awake, the thinness of the blade hiding the movement.

Whoever the man was, and whoever had sent him...

They would be sorry.

***

Hikeshi still watched the clearing dispassionately. His orders were to kill them... and that he would. When they were all asleep. He had been about to move when the King had stood up, awakening to check his guymelef.

At least... that's what he appeared to be doing. The other two... his cousin and that traitor, they were in front of the guymelefs. All three of them. He saw the king bend down to the foot of the melef - right behind them...

Hmmm...

Did they know?

No. It wasn't possible. His orders had been too precise, he had been too careful, for them to know he was waiting to kill them.

Hikeshi settled against the tree again, and decided to wait until the king was asleep - then he could make his move.

// ~ * ~ \\

"How is the mission progressing?"

"Barruchi has yet to make a move on the four, General."

"Fool. Does he still have time?"

"It appears so, Lord. All but the Dragon are still asleep, and he is bound to return to bed... It is still quite late in the night."

"How long until the dawn? If he waits until then, it will be too late. Their blessing, and the light will both protect them and make the necklace useless."

"6 hours, Lord. But Barruchi is said to have a hatred for the four... would he not harm them anyway?"

"He might... but he's not as foolish to attack and kill them alone without my orders. Once the necklace loses it's power..."

"I understand Lord. I apologize for the weaknesses in the necklace but..."

"Apologies are for failure. If Barruchi fails his mission, let it be understood that you and the other sorcerers will be punished as well."

The man bowed his head in fear and apprehension. "Yes, Lord. I understand."

// ~ * ~ \\

Van, as he bent under the guise of examining Escaflowne's foot, kicked both Rallin and Kirei in a smooth motion.

Rallin merely rolled over to face him, opened his eyes, raising an eyebrow as if to say, What?

Kirei did the same, but was about to open his mouth and speak in indignation when he saw his cousin kneel, and raise a finger to his lips. Remain silent.

They watched as Van gestured toward the trees, holding up one finger, and then drawing it across his throat. An assassin, in the trees. He then nodded towards himself, then Hitomi, and then looked again, and Rallin and Kirei. Here for us. Be discreet, he will regret taking his mission.

He was answered by two nods. Then Van, satisfied, returned to Hitomi, and appearing to be asleep to all watching eyes.

***

Perfect, thought Hikeshi relieved, they are all sleep. It is yet a few hours until dawn. I must finish my mission before then. Those were my orders.

But another part of his mind knew that it wasn't him. Well not the usual him. I would never…

Those were your orders! Now carry them out!

Hikeshi, his eyes seemingly waging a war with each other over the conflict in his heart, darkened to the red that meant the necklace was working.

He would carry out this mission.

***

"He's coming," whispered Hitomi.

"I know. The others are ready. Don't worry Hitomi, I won't let anything happen to you."

"Or you, either, Van Fanel. I won't have you dying for my sake."

They had been about to kiss, when the assassin decided to make itself known. Quickly, all four were up - and in fighting stances.

***

Blast.

They had known! Hikeshi had been about to advance on them, his sword drawn, glimmering under the light of the moon. It would have been so easy…

But he would still complete his mission. The battle begun.

Four on one, but Hikeshi was actually holding his own.

***

The battle was drawing to a close. Rallin had been shocked when he recognized Hikeshi, and thus had been momentarily confused when there wasn't any cries of "Khristos!" It was almost as if he was hypnotized…

Just as Rallin was about to deliver the final, killing, blow, Hikeshi's eyes changed colour.

He was hypnotized!

But it was too late. Just as Rallin realized this, his sword had already been in motion…

He had killed Hikeshi Barruchi, his enemy.

But he wished now, that he had waited… to know what his mission had meant.

// ~ * ~ \\

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK!

It's been awhile since I've seen all of you in this, but this chapter is finally out! And of a decent length, if I do say so. Unfortunately, I STILL have a lot of homework, and Achievement exams coming up so… I'm still not posting that often. The only reason this got done was because of procrastination on my assignment…

-_-. I know the end of this chapter is CRAPPY, and I'm sorry. But it had to get done, and Hikeshi had to die, and anyway… Well that's about it. I hope you enjoy it despite it's ending, and see you all in a few days (or weeks, depending)

Sincerely,

Angelic1090
05.06.2001
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