1.1 Part Ten: Inner thoughts

Author's note: When Sharra, or anybody else for that matter, is talking to themselves, I use 'this' okay?

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, I only own some characters and the plot.

Sharra stormed into the common room and sat down on a chair, how dare he kiss her! He didn't even tell her that he was Van's brother!

'Is that so important?'

'Of course it is!'

'Why, does him being the bastard son of a king, make it okay for you to kiss him?'

'I didn't kiss him, he kissed me!'

'You kissed him back.'

'He startled me!'

'Yeah, sure, that's it.'

Sharra stood up and started to pace.

'It's not like he was that good of a kisser anyway.'

'That's not what you were thinking when he had his tongue down your throat.'

'How did you know what I was thinking?'

'Duh, inner voice here, I know everything that you are thinking.'

'Well, that's stupid.'

'True, but hey, at least nobody else knows what your thinking, especially that thief that you are desperately trying not to think of.'

'Who cares about him?'

'You, obviously.'

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at the wall.

'Temper, temper.'

'Why is it that my inner voice is so annoying?'

'I'm the honest you, the you that never comes out because your such a priss. Except of course, when your kissing good looking men that you barely know.'

'Will you stop bringing that up!'

'Technically, you're the one who is bringing it up, remember?'

'Shut-up.'

'Isn't that just telling yourself to shut-up?'

She felt like screaming.

"Your Grace?" A guard stood in the doorway, looking at her quizzically. She straightened her dress, then gave him her most charming smile.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Your husband requests your presence. He is in his room."

"Thank-you, I'll come right away." Well, here goes, she thought.

'Just don't let him know what you are really thinking.' Her inner voice warned.

'Didn't I tell you to shut-up?'



Van paced around his room, Hitomie had made tea and was now sitting in a chair. She looked so beautiful, watching him, not saying anything. If only they had the same connection that they used to have, they would be so much closer, he could tell her things without actually saying them out loud.

'Do you really want her to know what you're thinking all the time though?'

'Of course I do, I care for her so much!'

'I know that, but now that she is here, do you really want her to know everything you are thinking?'

'What do you mean?'

'Let's put it this way, say Hitomie is looking particularly lovely, as she does now, do you really want her to *ahem* know exactly what you are thinking about her at that moment?'

'Why wouldn't I….oh!'

'Bravo, Genius.'

'I never thought of it that way, thanks buddy.'

'Don't call me buddy, I'm you, you idiot.'

'Sorry, wow, I'm really mean, do I call people idiot all the time?'

'Of course not, but then again, I'm the honest you, most of the time, we are way too polite to insult people.'

'Speak for yourself.'

'I'm speaking for both of us! I thought we already discussed this.'

"Van?"

Van shook himself out of his thoughts and smiled at Hitomie, "Yes?"

"Is, is that man, Orian, is he really your brother?"

Van's face turned into a scowl, "I still can't believe it, I don't want to believe it, but he has the brand." He walked over and knelt at Hitomie's feet, "If he wasn't, he wouldn't have the brand, would he?"

He looked so sad, sitting there at her feet, his hands on her knees. What could she say to him?

'Tell him the truth of course!'

'But it will hurt him so much!'

'You don't want to lie to him, that would be horrible, lying to the one you love.'

'Who asked your opinion anyway?'

'It doesn't matter who asked, you've got it.'

'I can't tell him the truth, but it's true, he has a brother.'

'Yes, he does, and if you love him, you will tell him the truth, and then you will help him get through it.'

'What if he doesn't want my help?'

'Hitomie Kansaki! You listen to me; you and Van have been through too much for you to just give up now! You two are meant to be together, I thought you knew that?!'

'He hasn't even kissed me yet.' Hitomie swallowed a gasp, where did that thought come from?

'Well then, you kiss him!'

'It's not proper in Gaea! He would think I was loose or something!'

'Oh please, what guy doesn't love when he gets his mouth invaded? And if everything goes okay, you'll wind up in bed!'

'You have a dirty mind!'

'Actually, you have a dirty mind, you just don't express it enough.'

'I don't know….'

'Oh just do it!'

Hitomie slid down onto the ground next to Van, she took his hands in hers.

"It's going to be okay." She whispered, before softly pressing her lips to his. She felt his shock, but then he relaxed and took it deeper. Hitomie sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck and he slipped his hands around her waist.

A thunderclap sounded and Hitomie and Van both heard the voices in their heads.

'Yes! It is done! The fates are sealed!'

Chris walked down the hall, thinking to himself.

'Is there any point of me being here?'

'You're in the prophecy aren't you?'

'Yeah, but what if that isn't a prophecy, what if it's just Hitomie rambling?'

'Does Hitomie ever ramble in rhyme?'

'No, but still. It just seems like I shouldn't be here or something.'

'How about if I told you that if it wasn't for you, Sharra and Orian wouldn't have met, which means Orian wouldn't have been captured, which means, Van wouldn't know that he had a brother.'

'Oh, great, just something else he can hate me for.'

'He doesn't hate you.'

'Want to make a bet?'

'Your betting with your inner voice, how pathetic is that?'

'Thanks a lot.'

'You're really down aren't you?'

'I just want to go home!'

'Well too bad! If you haven't noticed, you are kind of stuck here. So why don't you suck it up and stop sulking!'

'I'm not sulking.'

'Want to make a bet?'

'Didn't you just say…'

'What can I say? I'm you.'



In another room, with plush furniture and a great view of the gardens, Orian was also sulking.

'I got a great welcome didn't I? The whole kit and caboodle.'

'Maybe if you weren't so hostile….'

'&*#$ off.'

'See what I mean? Hostile.'

'Well I'm very sorry, this hasn't been the best day, I got beaten up by specs, Miss. Priss, Duchess of the World slapped me,'

'She isn't really Duchess of the world…'

'Didn't I tell you to &*#$ off?'

'Sorry, continue.'

'Thank you, as I was saying, Princess slapped me, I was held at sword point when I decided, against my better judgement I should say, to kiss the little bit. Me! A renowned thief! Caught snogging! It's humiliating it is! Then I had to meet my wonderful half brother and his ladylove. Although, she is a lovely piece she is.'

'Maybe people would like you more if you referred to them by their first names, or at least referred to them by nice nicknames.'

'Yeah well, we've all got our faults don't we?'

'I can name yours very easily.'

'Just try it.'

'Never mind.'

'Good thinking.'

'Thank you, I get it from you.'

'Why did I even kiss her in the first place?'

'Oh, are we back on the subject of Sharra again?'

'We never got off.'

'I see….well, I think it's really obvious why you kissed her. She's cute, with all that fiery hair and spitting personality. She compliments you.'

'Only one problem mate, if you haven't noticed, she's married. To a stuffy old duke no less. That puts her a bit above my standards.'

'And if you haven't noticed, you're a prince now! Brother to the King! That has to count for something.'

'Yeah, the Bastard brother to the King, which counts for nothing.'

'Chin up.'

'Bite me.'

'Fine, I'll leave you alone.'

'Thank you very much.'



Little did any of these people know, while they were ranting, and kissing, and pondering, and kissing, Two wandering souls met on a balcony…..

"My love?"

"Yes?"

"We will have to tell them eventually."

"Not yet, everyone has to get used to Hitomie being back, if we told them that we, that we were…"

"Lovers?"

"Yes, I don't know how they will take it."

"So be it, but you do realise that any more of these and people are going to know."

"No, they are to caught up in their own lives to realise it."

"Hmmm…..well then, we better go."

"I suppose."

"I love you Celena."

"I love you too, Gaddes."

Author's note: YAY! I'm so happy! They are great! But will Celena be with Gaddes for long? Read and Review and tell me what you think and maybe I will write more……hee hee hee!!!!