Episode Twenty-four: Memories of Long Ago

Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Previously on Escaflowne: Dreams of Destiny

Kirei and Rallin return to where their futures were shaped, and search for what appears in their memories. Van and Hitomi on the other hand, decide to wander off for some alone time, their hearts leading them to the perfect spot. And if you remember where we left off…

[AN: This and the next episode will be focused on Kirei, Rallin, Van and Hitomi primarily, and although you'll see glimpses of the Gateway, it will not be making its appearance - yet. The last episode was called "Interlude" because it is just the time that passes between things. Oh yeah. Any of you (my faithful readers) who have actually READ Separate Paths should know where they are… if you didn't get it from Kirei's last name. As another side note, this will be longer 'cause I figure I should... um... live up to the "romance" requirement that the genre entails. You guys don't mind... do you?]

// ~ * ~ \\

They had been searching for at least an hour. Wherever his cousin and his fiancée had gone, they were certainly well hidden. It was odd, to Rallin that Van and Hitomi had found an ideal hiding place on the lands that he and Kirei had grown up in - by the gods, they knew every inch of it and they still hadn't found them! The only thing worse was that it was apparent they had never been there before… so where on Gaea were they?

Just then, out of the corner of his eye he spotted a flash of green and gold just south of where they were. In all likelihood, it was Hitomi's blade. At last…

They had found them, and now they could explain. Although…

It was certainly going to be odd doing so.

***

Van, Hitomi said softly, not aloud, but in their minds. As if she could have said anything aloud anyway. They were still kissing. Of course the customary partings for air had to occur out of necessity, but other than that… they hadn't stopped. Not that Hitomi minded. Her fiancée, and her angel, with her. Van, she repeated again, this time more insistently.

I know Hitomi. My cousin and Rallin are coming towards us.

And you don't intend on stopping?

Do you really want to?

No… but…

But what, Hitomi?

What are they going to think…?

It doesn't matter Hitomi. No one matters to me but you.

Oh Van.

What they had been discussing was quickly forgotten (yet again) as Van moved to engage another kiss.

***

Rallin let out a sigh of relief. They had finally spotted what, hopefully, was Hitomi's blade (well the hilt of the blade anyway), and so thus found the two lovers.

He just prayed to the gods that they wouldn't be interrupting something. Rallin was someone who was not big on shame but still...

Who or what on Gaea liked embarrassment?

// ~ * ~ \\

Adelphus looked at the various images of his annoyances on the screen. The Fate Machine... no longer was it a portal to change fate, but, rather, a tool to see what the outcome of it was.

To see his enemies. That was its entire usefulness to Adelphus. He surmised that perhaps a lesser man would simply attack them now, eager to be rid of his enemies while they rested, unaware of the enemy waiting in the shadows.

But Adelphus was not that kind of man. No. Despite what his soldiers might think, what he might have done when he was a commander in Zaibach, Adelphus was an honorable man.

Besides, if he killed them now he would never see the Gateway, and never get his vision of Gaea to come true.

// ~ * ~ \\

Hitomi, despite the fact that she loved Van's kisses, finally pulled away from him just before she felt Rallin and Kirei's respective presence enter the clearing.

He grinned at her nonetheless. Pulling her up so that they were in a standing position, he straightened first his clothes, and then Hitomi's. His smile widened, and he wrapped an arm loosely about her waist as they walked towards the opening among the brush to meet his cousin, and their comrade.

***

Kirei sighed in relief as he saw his cousin and Hitomi (his soon-to-be cousin-in-law) walk out to meet them. Van, unusually, was grinning, and Hitomi's cheeks were pink. Well the pink cheeks weren't that unusual. The Lady Hitomi tended to get embarrassed by a lot of things, and had almost been in one continuous blush for the duration on their stay aboard the Crusade... something about Gaddis and the rest of the crew teasing her and Van...

About the fact that they were rarely seen apart...

And how the blush managed to get deeper as Van smirked at them all...

Kirei shook his head.

Despite the humorous quality that particular memory held, he really felt that they had to explain... so...

"We're in Fanelia," said Kirei.

"We figured that out, cousin." Van said wryly, "How else would you know this place so well?"

"But-"

"We'd just like you both to explain why you chose to leave, and then show us around," said Hitomi.

"All right."

***

Explanations said, dinner hunted for then cooked, and eaten, they were again situated around the fire, Kirei and Rallin commencing a quick duel before retiring to their bedrolls. Following their example, Hitomi and Van had too, had a short duel (fast and furious was theirs, though Van still won, marginally), before going to bed. But instead of falling into the land of dreams as quickly as their companions had, laid together, looking up at the clear sky filled with stars - and the two moons.

"Are you sure, Hitomi?" Van asked softly, taking his gloves off and allowing one hand to stroke the honey-colored strands of hair while the other pulled her closer, to keep her warm... well that was the logic behind it anyway.

"Sure about what Van?" Hitomi willingly moved closer to him, sighing softly as she felt his gentle hand upon her hair.

"About... about staying here. With me. On Gaea. Are you sure you want to stay Hitomi? And..." here Van paused, sounding for the first time in all that she had known him... unsure. And nervous. "Are you sure you want to marry me?"

"Oh Van," she said softly, smiling through the sudden haze of tears that clouded her eyes, and spoke again, "of course I'm sure. I love you Van, and I'm willing to give everything up so that we can be together. I'd miss you so much if we were apart. Don't you ever doubt me or my feelings for you again. Promise?"

"I promise Hitomi," he answered, finally feeling completely at peace.

Together, they both drifted off into sleep.

But Hitomi's dreams were far from peaceful.

// ~ * ~ \\

*** Hitomi's Dream ***

She was cold. And scared. Of what, she wasn't sure yet. But something about this place was unnerving - and eerily familiar.

Had she been here before?

It was familiar - and yet unfamiliar. As if some part of her mind was desperately trying to block it out...

Had whatever happened to her here been that horrible?

But not just to her, some part of her whispered, to those you love. To Van.

What is it? What was it?

She looked around her again. Metal walls, she could see something, a globe... she knew! She knew! Wherever this place was, they had reconstructed to the Fate Alteration Machine.

Fate

But it was the same device and it wasn't. It didn't serve the same purpose, it wasn't for altering Fate, no, it was for seeing it. But who? Whose was it?

Who would need to see someone else's fate?

Not their allies, they didn't possess the power. Their enemies, then, perhaps?

But who was their enemy?

'Goshem', said a small part of her mind. 'Goshem.'

Not the country though, she replied, the person. The leader. The one who sent the Clan Warriors - she had heard that name before, perhaps from Rallin - and the assassin. Who sent them?

Another whisper.

Remember before...

Remember past enemies...

Zaibach?

Dornkirk is DEAD!

Not him. Someone that was under him, but in military, as equally powerful.

A general?

Which general did not die in that fatal blast? Which ship was not completely engulfed?

The lead ship...

Do you remember what Folken said about the leader of the army? Before you went with him, to Dornkirk? What he told you would happen because you were worried about Van?

He said... he said that Adelphus was a cruel man, powerful and with legions upon legions of guymelefs. But no matter what he did, he would never win against Van...

You were watching then. He, as the leader, was on the lead ship. That ship was not destroyed. Put it all together now.

Zaibach was not completely destroyed. When I returned, Van had said that the remnants had been assimilated into the Goshem Empire - which had been taken over soon after Gaea's war. If Zaibach had been easily assimilated and then Goshem was overthrown then...

Adelphus...

H-he's the one trying to change Fate!

He's going to do something once the gateway comes...

***

Hitomi woke up.

// ~ * ~ \\

Hello Everyone!

Well this chapter was overdue (in my head, anyway) but I wanted to get it out before we go away for a few days because my sister is graduating - not here. ^_^ Anyway, this WILL be longer. Gateway will be appearing... hmm... in any of the next 3 or 4 episodes? I think that it would be cool if this was an even thirty.

As you can see, I DID post a new story (Escaflowne again) chaptered yes, but it's only a two-part. A SHORT two-part. Fluffy, and romance! Hope you guys read it, it's called Memories of a Feather, and remember - I REALLY want you to read/review my prelude Separate Paths. The next chapter for that will be out eventually - right now I'm concentrating on this, and my schoolwork (no more major assignments but finals are coming up. -_-).

Enjoy this story, and this chapter,

Angelic1090
05.22.2001
(It's 30 degrees right now and I'm SOOOO hot!)