Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny
Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny
[In the, unfortunately worst ending ever...]
// ~ * ~ \\
She worried sometimes, though no one but she would ever realize that. What her task was this time... it worried her. Those dreams... Half the time they were horrible... nightmares that would haunt her, though she said nothing to her beloved, never wanting him to worry, never to think that she wasn't safe. Always some dark shadow coming closer and closer... in the beginning it felt as if she could never stop it, never get away.
Never be able to defend herself.
She had seen them on Earth for a year, preempting the time before she was with Van once again, not just for now, but for an eternity. She had seen those visions, the black shadow attacking, and had consequently found a way to defend herself - self-defense classes. But on Earth, there was no need to have something that could slice a shadow - who besides Hitomi still feared the demons of the night?
It was then that she knew. The dream-monsters... they weren't of Earth. They were of Gaea. But it had taken her some time to realize that. And then she was with him. Van. He could ward off the demons. In his arms at night, she felt safe. They had disappeared. The shadow on her future had, somehow, been vanquished by the love that he had for her, and that she had for him. In his arms, she was no longer afraid. But even still, she remembered them. And thus she asked Van to teach her the way of the sword. He had hesitated at first - unsure of why. But she had worn him down, and now...
She felt slightly more secure now, that she could use a weapon on Gaea. Her sword. A slender, crystal blade, its hilt gold and emerald green, a fragile look to it, but a hidden strength - and danger - underneath. Much like Hitomi. Van had laughed when they found it, comparing it to her likeness. Their blades were just beyond her back.
She would never forget the horror that seemed to loom ahead, for she must be careful. But she would always have Van, she, they, had promised. Though there was no ring...
They would be together, and protect each other, forever.
***
The next morning their flight began again. A week now, and still no sign. A week since Goshem's last botched attempt on their lives. And still, there was no sign of the Gateway. It was infuriating to all of them, even to Hitomi, the calm one among their group. But they knew that they could not just sit and wait. There was a chance that once it appeared they would never reach it in time, and that way, sitting still, they would be, as Hitomi had told them once, "sitting ducks". So they searched. Committing every aspect of the land they watched beneath them to memory, remembering where they had gone, and how to return should the Gateway appear there.
But despite the lack that was the Gate, Hitomi was, for the most part, content. Aside from that soldier... nothing had come. Or rather, no one had. Ignoring the shadows that were the future, everything, in the NOW, not the soon-to-be, was fine. Kirei and Rallin were fine. Van was here, with her. And… she was here. Here, on Gaea, on the world she had longed for, with the man she had longed for.
Where they were heading seemed familiar. But it was something that she hadn't seen in so long... or maybe had never seen before. What was it? Where were they? There was something that called to her here, but she didn't know -
She was broken from her train of thought when she heard Kirei, and Rallin's simultaneous gasps. She turned her head towards them, as did Van, questioningly.
"What is it cousin? Khristos?" Van's low voice carried easily across the current of air, for once.
"By the gods... I can't believe it." Kirei's response was only a whisper, but the air magnified it.
"Me neither," echoed Rallin, sounding star-struck.
"What is it?" asked Hitomi, and Van, in unison, wondering what they had seen to send them into shock. After a few minutes with a lack of response, shrugged in unison. Maybe once they landed, they would get an explanation.
***
Hitomi and Van wisely took to the sidelines as they watched with some interest, Kirei and Rallin eagerly looking around... wherever they were. They were among the ruins of what must've been a castle and village at one point. Hitomi had mentioned to Van how it felt somewhat familiar, though she was now certain she had never seen it before.
But Kirei and Rallin on the other hand... they had what seemed to be a much too familiar knowledge of the surroundings. If this was so, they might be in… he wasn't sure. They had only told them scant details of how they knew each other - one of the key details being as they never told them where.
But, they could ask questions later.
For now... while their companions were still busy going over what might be memories, the engaged duo decided to go for a walk in the surrounding forest for some... privacy.
***
It was a few hours later that Kirei and Rallin had broken off from their explorations of what was once their childhood home, to look in the forest to see where Van and Hitomi had wandered off.
"Where do you suppose they went off to?" Kirei asked, as they walked through the forest, eyes scanning the brush looking for the emerald green that signified Hitomi, and the dark ruby that meant Van.
"Gods know," replied Rallin, his eyes still on the trees. "They were probably tired of watching us poke around. We probably should have told them why it was so surprising to be here."
Kirei stopped in surprise. They had been on what was once his home for hours, and not once had either of them thought to mention where they were. "Oh dear... no wonder they wandered off. But do you think anything horrible has happened to them?" Normally Kirei was not one to worry, but his cousin and the Lady Hitomi had... what could only be called a "knack" for getting into troublesome situations. Which was why, though at first it seemed against his personality, Kirei now tended to worry when the two disappeared.
Rallin on the other hand, despite the short time he had been with the group, scoffed at his friend's worry. "Please, Fanel. Van is the best swordsman on Gaea - you know that - and he is fully capable of protecting both of them should anything arise. Besides that, you have seen that Hitomi is as good or better with a sword as we are, thus able to protect herself as well. Short of being engulfed in an explosion, nothing on Gaea could kill them. Now can we get on with this? Explanations are best left to now, and apologies later."
Rallin began walking at a brisker pace. Kirei sighed gamely, and jogged after him.
***
Hitomi leaned back contentedly in Van's arms, gazing at the shining blue lake before them. It had been at least three hours since they had left Kirei and Rallin poking around wherever they had landed, and only a quarter of an hour after they had left to wander around, they ended up here, in front of a beautiful crystal lake.
They had talked at first, about what was happening, what they had to do. Hitomi debated telling Van about the shadows in the dreams - or visions, but decided not to - he had enough on his mind, and did not need her worries on top of it. So, for just this afternoon, she would forget about the dreams, the premonitions, and just think of Van.
Van too, was worrying, though his dilemma was far from Hitomi's. He was beginning to feel the sprigs of nervousness about the... the wedding. His wedding. Wars were certainly troublesome, but he had gone through them before and knew what to expect. But a wedding... the only one he had ever attended had been Millerna and Dryden's, and that was doomed the first time. But they had been forced. He truly loved Hitomi, he knew that, but not only did it matter if he loved her (and vice-versa) but if the councilors liked her too. There could never be a wedding if the whole of Fanelia hated the future Queen (how Van wished at the moment that they could just put the war on hold for a moment so he could go to Adon and ask his council for their approval [and, not to mention, tell Merle that while she was there, he had proposed to Hitomi, seen Folken, and found a new ally] and not have to worry).
He was brought out of his worry when he felt Hitomi's hand gently caress his cheek. "Hmmm?" he said contentedly, wrapping his arms around her waist and drawing her close once again. "What is it?"
"You seemed to be worrying Van, is something wrong?" Her voice was sincere, and she looked at him closely, the look of love evident in her eyes.
Van smiled. She always seemed to know when he wasn't happy - and made it better afterwards, still he shook his head to say no, it was nothing, and looked at her to see doubt. To erase that, he leaned forward, and as if to ward off even the slightest doubt that Fanelia would not love Hitomi, kissed her, one had brought up to run through her now shoulder-length golden locks.
Hitomi sighed, and returned the kiss, deepening it after a moment. When they both drew back for needed air, she smiled brightly at Van, and said, smiling still; "As much as I enjoy you Van Fanel, Kirei and Rallin are looking for us. Perhaps we should meet them to stop their search."
Van laughed. "And you know this because?" he asked, teasing.
"A little pendant told me."
"Well if the pendant told you, they'll find us soon enough anyhow, and I'd like to be alone with you a little longer." Before Hitomi could protest, Van had pulled her into another kiss.
Magically, all the arguments faded away after that.
// ~ * ~ \\
Hello Everyone!
Well, I really SHOULDN'T be writing or posting at the moment due to homework, but since when has that stopped me? Anyway, I'm sorry nothing really dramatic happened in this episode, but I wanted to post and besides, this was, for the most part fluff (I suppose this makes up for an episode or two where there was a lack thereof). So I hope you enjoyed!
This chapter was REALLY short. Again, I have a lack of time at the moment, but after the next month and a half or so… That'll be over. Promise. I'm BEGGING you people to review. I have 199 reviews on this on the moment. Can ONE of you review? I'd be SOOOO grateful.
I'm not happy with the way I write fluff, but you people don't seem to mind, so, that's good! ^_^! I'll see you once my provincial exams are over more often, but for now…
See you in a week (or month)!
Angelic1090
05.13.2001
Happy Mother's Day!
