Disclaimer:
"Code of Conduct for Fanfiction Writing"
A bible for the fanfic obsessed by I. Write
Chapter 10; Section 5; Verse 9: Thou doth not own the series thee its writing of. If thee does than thou art free to claim it as thy own. All characters of creative background thy doth own and no one person may take them from thee.
(Translation: I don't own Esca, the original characters are MINE!)
A/N: Well, before wfgirl kills me, here's the next chapter. I of course wrote this during Pre-Algebra when I wasn't supposed to, but what my teacher doesn't know won't hurt her. This chapter is once again dedicated to all my friends, especially one of my best friends Washu who turned thirteen a couple weeks ago. Hope you all enjoy, PLEASE REVIEW!!! Thanks! ^_^
Winged Destinies
Chapter 2: Inner Emotions
Hitomi's hot tears splashed upon the mossy ground. Gradually it began to heavily rain.
"Perfect." Hitomi muttered as she continued to sprint away.
`All my dreams. They're crashing down around me. No Van, all thanks to that stupid advisor.'
She pounded her fists against a heavyset oak tree, but it refused to budge, it was forever firm. For some reason, it made her feel slightly better.
`Van is just like that tree. I just know he won't change his mind.' She breathed a sigh of relief and sniffed, wiping away her salty tears.
Two large yellow eyes met hers and she screamed in terror falling off the log she was perched on.
"Oh, it's you Natal, what are you doing out here?" She stroked the owl's smooth white feathers.
"I bet Allen's worried about you."
"I've got nothing better to do. I'm homeless, friendless, and husbandless. I'll help you get home."
The owl hooted as if to say, "Thank you."
"You're very welcome I'm sure." Natal perched on her shoulder, coming softly in her ear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hitomi, where are you?" Van called out into the dark, gloomy woods.
`If something happens to her I'll never forgive myself.'
"I promised that I'd protect her. So far I've failed in keeping that promise."
"Maybe it's a lucky thing for her we couldn't be married, I'd make a lousy husband if I can't even care for her for five minutes without her getting lost." He sighed in frustration, but then remembered the pendant.
"Where are you Hitomi?" He then saw her smiling face, green eyes sparkling, the pendant swung to the right.
"Ah, to the east then." Van dashed off in that direction following her shoe imprints in the dirt.
After running for a while, he slumped onto the ground to catch his breath.
"This is harder than Hitomi makes it look." He panted, before snapping his head around, feeling that something wasn't right.
"Who's there?!" He barked, pulling his sword from its sheath.
"You wouldn't kill a defenseless woman, would you my King?" An old, wrinkled, gypsy woman emerged from the shadows, supporting herself on a crutch.
"H-How d-do y-you know that?" Van asked, his sword shaking in his hands.
"I know more about you than you think." She said, giving him a toothless grin.
"Your name is Van Slanzar de Fanel. You are the King of the fair kingdom of Fanelia. Son of King Gaou de Fanel and Queen Varie de Fanel. You're pilot of the Ispano guymelef Escaflowne that you made a blood pact with. A friend and ally of Allen Schezar, you are a skillful swordsman and guymelef pilot. Since you were a small child, you have been the best of friends with the catgirl called `Merle.' Your sword master, Balgus, a samurai of Fanelia, died protecting you when Zaibach attacked your country. Rival of Dilandau Albatou, you killed his Dragonslayers, all 15 of them, not to mention the dogman named Jajuka. Folken Lacour de Fanel is your older brother, who betrayed your country, but died to redeem himself in your eyes. You are deeply in love with Hitomi Kanzaki, the girl from the Mystic Moon that came to Gaea several months ago against her will after you slew the dragon for the rite of becoming King. You became extremely jealous of Allen when it seemed as though she cared for him more than you. The Fanelian council is pestering you to marry although your heart belongs to her, but they refuse to accept her as Fanelia's Queen. Your heart is broken, I can see it, it has suffered far too much for a boy of 15 years. I truly pity you."
"Save your pity!" Van spat.
"For someone more deserving."
"For I am a king of Fanelia, I will not be broken so easily."
"Ah, beware young king. For your stubbornness and pride will lead to your downfall. And may cost you the one you hold dear."
"What do you know about Hitomi?" Van asked urgently.
"Where is she now?"
"All in good time Milord, all in good time. Perhaps you would like to know more about the young lady you are courting, ne?"
"I guess so." Van mumbled.
"Ah yes, Hitomi Kanzaki. A resident of the country called Japan on the Mystic Moon. Her best friends are Yukari and Amano. She was deeply in love with his Amano boy, and Allen reminded her so much of him, she fell in love with the gallant knight of the heavens. She left behind her parents and little brother, her parents are divorced, so she and her brother spent weekends with their father and the rest of the week with their mother. Her grandmother died a few months before she came to Gaea, that is how the pendant came into her possession, when her grandmother was on her death bed it was given to her as a parting gift. She is a fairly smart girl, doing well in school, and is quite talented at track. Now Lord Van, this next part you don't know, and you MUST NOT tell Lady Hitomi, for it could change the course of history. She is a Draconian, a descendant of Atlantis, just like yourself Lord Van. For some reason or another, she never discovered her true form, and her mother and grandmother never revealed it to her. That is the reason she has her tarot abilities and can see the past, present, and future. Her emotions are all mixed up, she doesn't know what to think anymore, nothing's how she had pictured it would be. The only thing she's sure of is that she loves you. She cares about you so much, if necessary, she'd die for you. Her true desire is to marry you and be with you forever Lord Van. And she's determined to stick to her goal at all costs. Van-sama, never have I seen such blind devotion as that which she has for you, you're very lucky, don't lose her so easily."
She began to amble away when Van called out to her, "You. Woman. What's your name?"
She slowly turned around, her cerulean eyes looking into the depths of his very soul.
"I cannot tell you my true name, for it would endanger you. You may call me Lady Hiraki."
"I thank you, milady. Is there any chance you could tell me where Hitomi is?" He asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry Master Van, but I cannot tell you that, for it could very well alter fate. I must leave you now, but remember, never give up on your dreams, because they will always come true." And with that, she disappeared into the silent blackness that was night.
Van was quite agitated at this point, so he continued plodding onward, unsure of what lie ahead of him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Natal suddenly sunk her claws into Hitomi's bare flesh.
"Ow! Natal! Bad owl!" She hooted in a hoarse, raspy manner, her pupils dilated, her head spinning around wildly.
"Is something out there?" Hitomi asked, looking into the depths of the woods. She gasped, feeling a hand on her shoulder as she spun around causing Natal even more alarm.
"We seem to keep running into each other, now don't we Hitomi?" A familiar voice greeted her warmly. Stepping into the patch illuminated by the moonlight.
"Allen, it's you." Hitomi gasped.
"Yes Milady. I, the gallant knight of Asturia have come once again to save a fair lady in distress. This time is happens to be you again." He grinned and whistled.
Two horses ran over to them, whinnying wildly, nostrils flared.
"Oh, they're beautiful." Hitomi murmured stroking a dapple-gray horse's muzzle.
"That's Azure. This horse," He pointed to a midnight black steed, "Is Mito."
"May I have Azure?" Hitomi asked politely.
"Of course, I believe she suits you. Now tell me Hitomi, what are you doing out here, we all thought you'd gone home."
"Well I was headed home, but then Van proposed to me and I said yes. Then an advisor showed up and spoiled it and I ran off like a spoiled little child who didn't get her way. I found Natal an hour or so back."
"Sounds like you've had a traumatizing day." Allen commented.
"Tell me about it." Hitomi replied as she spurred Azure forward.
"So Allen, how did you find me?"
"I was just patrolling this area. You were indeed very lucky you were where you were or you might've never been found."
"I don't FEEL very lucky." Hitomi whispered under her breath as they continued riding off into the night.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Lady Hiraki, do you think it was wise to do that?" The blond-haired man asked her.
"I just couldn't bear to see him suffer like that." She stated emotionlessly.
"Getting soft in your old age, ne?"
"I always was a kind person, it's not a recent development Kirus."
"How much longer are we going to be here then?" Kirus asked impatiently.
"We won't be leaving until the future is secure." She replied calmly, taking a sip of tea.
"But Lady Hiraki, that could be months, years even! Are you sure it's wise to plan like that?"
"Yes, I'm sure, don't you understand the importance of our task Kirus, or are you blind?"
"I know how vital this is, but aren't the gods worrying a BIT too much?"
"Don't question them, or you'll find yourself at their mercy, I've learned that the hard way."
"Yes, I know how much you suffered, I just want to go home, and I'm sure you do too Lady Hiraku."
"Stop calling me that! My name is…"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Ooh! CLIFFHANGER! MWAHAHAHA! I'm sorry, I KNOW that was short, but I just wanted to get his up. I'll either add to this tomorrow or start an EXTRA long chapter when I get the chance. Hope you like it so far. Review when you're done! Thanks! Ja ne! ^_^
~Trunks Gal~
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