Chapter 3 –A New Home
Disclaimer: Me no own Escaflowne… Me REALLY wish I did, but then if I did, I would be writing a second a series and not a fanfic now wouldn't I? That and I would be very rich. I get no money from writing this; it's just to amuse people! YOU HOLD NOTHING AGAINST ME!!!!
Hitomi felt herself land on solid and blinked her eyes several times to clear them. When they had refocused she found that she had landed in her front yard, the same place she had left. She took a few wobbly steps forward, then walked to her front door. She pushed it open, walked inside and closed the door. Her mother then walked into the foyer and dropped the plate she was drying.
-"Hitomi! You're back!"
-"Yeah."
-"Where were you?"
-"I told you before, I was on Gaia."
-"Hitomi don't lie to me."
-"I'm not."
-"Well I think you are, so you'll be grounded if you don't stop lying."
-"Whatever, I'm not staying long. I just came to tell you that I'm going to stay in Gaia permanently. Van asked me to marry him."
-"Well, what did you say?"
-"I said yes of course."
-"How? You're only 18, besides we haven't even met him."
-"Hmm? And what does your meeting him have to do with it. I love him, I'm marrying him, I'm grabbing some of my personal things from upstairs and I'm leaving."
With that Hitomi pushed past her mother and ran to her room. There she gathered her things, like some books to read, her tarot cards, and other various Mystic Moon things that she knew she'd miss on Gaia. She packed them all in her duffle bag and ran back downstairs.
-"I just came to say goodbye mom. And just so you know, I doubt I will be back here of my own free will ever again."
-"Hitomi you can't just leave like this."
-"Oh but I can."
Hitomi walked over to the door, pulled it open and walked out onto the front lawn. By now there were about 20 people gathered around their front lawn because they wanted to know what the bright blue light had been.
-"Bye mom."
Hitomi closed her eyes and focused on Gaia, blocked out everything about Earth and her family. The pendant floated out from under her shirt and above her head. The people around her gasped and pointed. Hitomi willed it upwards and then called down the beam of light. It came immediately and blinded everyone for a few seconds. But in those few seconds Hitomi had been taken back to Gaia, her new home… Leaving only a glowing red pendant behind.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Hitomi felt herself land and waited until the spots in front of her eyes disappeared. Once they had she saw she was in her room in the Fanelian Castle… not that it would be hers much longer. She put her duffle bag down beside the closet, and prayed that no one had seen the light of her return. She waited a few minutes and gratefully no one showed up. Only then did Hitomi throw herself down on the bed and let herself grieve for what she had now just lost.
-"I know it didn't seem like it mom, but I love you, and I will miss you."
That started a whole new set of tears until Hitomi eventually cried herself into exhaustion. When she woke up the next morning the sun was already high in the sky. Hitomi figured that she had better tell everyone that she was back… especially Van. She got up out of bed, pulled off her uniform, used the wash-water that was left in the basin, changed into a blue dress and fixed her hair and makeup. Then she shook off the last bit of her sadness at the thought of seeing Van. She opened the door, closed it behind her and made her way out towards the courtyard, chances are that either Van would be there, or someone would have seen him. She walked outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. Then she heard someone call her name. Hitomi turned around just in time to see Merle flying straight at her. Hitomi dogged at the last second so Merle just ended up glomping onto her waist instead of knocking her to the ground.
-"Come one Hitomi! Van was hoping you'd be back by now! He waiting for you at the council meeting… oh good your already dressed up. How'd you know? Wait that's a stupid question! Come on, come on!"
Hitomi let Merle's ramblings wash over her until…
-"Wait council meeting? Why am I going?"
-"Duh. Well for one, you'll soon have a large say in what happens in there once you're queen and secondly Van has to announce your engagement. Technically he still has to ask permission but I know that if they said no, Van would argue till they were either dead or they had agreed."
Hitomi nodded nervously and Hitomi was dragged off to the council meeting, yet she had the worst feeling something bad would happen very soon… something involving them.