Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own anything in Vision of Escaflowne, or it wouldn't be a fanfiction. Don't sue me :D

synopsis: Evan was going to be good from now on... he promised. But something came up he couldn't ignore...

Authors note: As odd as it is, I was listening to Poketto o Kara ni Shite (Empty the Pocket) as I wrote the fight o.O.. but I suggest Shadow of Doubt ( I LOVE that song :D)

***

Shouting, Van slammed Evan's head into the floor. Grimicing in the pain, Evan shoved Van as hard as he could in the shoulders, knocking him backwards a few feet, and on his back. Van growled as he fell, and jumped up almost the instant he touched the floor.

Evan was ready for him and managed to hit Van in the mouth with his fist. Hardly even turning his head back, Van pounded at Evan, knocking him back into the wall. Van stood and ran at him. He was so focused in getting to Evan he didn't notice as the door was opened and several hands held him fast, far from his friend.

The palace guards held Van steady, as Evan sat up. Merle ran into the room, and seeing Van held went to Evan.

Lord Evan! What happened? She asked with eyes wide and her hand on his shoulder.

Grining, he wiped the blood dripping down his chin off with the back of his hand, and brushed her off. It seems His Royal Highness, Lord Van, cannot keep his woman happy and gets violent when anyone suggests so. Evan was about to chuckle but stopped short when a furry hand slapped him square across the face.

You listen to me, Evan! Lord Van has a lot of catching up to do, and until we can find a competent staff he will have to do a lot of the work himself. Hitomi knows and understands this! You obviously don't and need to pay more attention! She screamed and growled at him.

Evan, wordlessly, stood up and left the room, his scowl deepening.

*

He put everything he would take with him into one bag. Hunting wouldn't be too big of a problem, as it was mid summer. He would probably get a job and work somewhere... somewhere far from here.

Picking up his sword he contemplated bringing it. If he met someone far superior in the art, he would most likely lose it. The thought sickened him. The first expensive present he had received, aside from his own birth. He wasn't about to let some lowlife have it. So Evan laid it across his pillow with the letter pinned underneath. He hefted his bag onto his back, and looked around the room. His heart slightly sank, but it had to be done.

This is my room... and my room alone. And I leave it for some dumb mistake I made out of trying to help. Figures... I'm probably not cut out for this world either...

He walked out and closed the door behind him.

*

Van folded his arms across his chest and watched from a small balcony as Evan walked down the stairs and into the city. He carried only a small bag, a recurve and a quiver filled with arrows.

He steals a small bow and doesn't take the sword I gave him! well... maybe he isn't ready... but he could practice out there...

Van frowned and turned around and walked back inside. Closing the door he sighed. He had a tendency to push his loved ones away, and he did it yet again, to someone very dear to him.

How could I be so stupid? Arrrggg!!

*

Opening the door to Evan's room, Van spotted the sword and the letter right away. Picking up the sword, he sat on the bed and put it across his lap. He held the letter and sighed. Only a year and a bit of experience reading Japanese, and he would have to try his best. Luckily, it seemed Evan knew Van didn't want to share it with anyone. The entirety of the letter was written in the simplest form of the language possible.

Van Slanzar de Fanel,

I know nothing I can say will do. So I leave you and your country to find a place on this planet I can do some bit of good. I heard Asturia was a nice place, so I will look around there first. Don't come after me, though. I might return someday, but don't count on it. Your country is beautiful and full of life, happy life, but my presence only seems to aggravate you. I am truly sorry... It seems I broke my promise already.

I thank you for the sword, but I do not want some brigands to take it. So I leave it for your keeping. Please save it incase I do return. (again, doubtful)

Your friend (hopefully),
Mizuuta Evan

Van closed his eyes and set the sword down beside him. He stood up, and yelling he punched his fist into the wall. Luckily it was a hardwood, so neither his hand nor the wood shattered but it might as well have.

Van ignored his torn knuckles, and folded the letter. He took the sword and gripping it tightly walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.


***

poor Van.. and Evan.. gah boys! *l*

OH, Evan's Last name/surname comes from Final fantasy.. i messaged my friend on AIM and asked her to quickly set me up with a japanese or japanese sounding name. So she (im guessing) clicked into her music program and picked the first two names that she saw. Naoshi Mizuta came up second, and I ran with it.

My Boyfriend tells me that Evan and Van, at least in the earlier chapters are soft to one another. But its hard to get much more of an explination... Quiet now, I'm getting into the meat of the angst XD!