Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. Or the songs, "Hikari no Naka e" which is an Esca song or the one line I use of "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton. Life is cruel…
A/N: I'm sorry for the delays in all my fics… I have been so busy lately with school and chores and the holidays and friends that I haven't had time for anything… It's really been a drag… I'll call these last few weeks my sabbatical, since I've been writing non-stop pretty much since I joined ff.net… It was kinda nice to take a break… Anyways, sorry for all the delays, hope you enjoy chapter 3! Read and Review! ^_^
Forever In Your Memory
Chapter 3: Memories Lost, Memories Found
"Lady? Lady? Are you alright?" A voice echoed about her.
"Van? Don't leave me alone…" She moaned, clenching her eyes shut.
"Snap out of it!" Merle slapped her across the face.
"Lady Merle! Is it wise to strike the patient in such a manner?" A healer asked timidly.
"Patient-Smatient… I would've let her die if I didn't need her to answer some questions!" Merle snapped.
"As you wish, Lady Merle…" The healer bowed his way to the side of the room.
"Now girl… Tell me what I want to know!" Merle shrieked.
"Jeez Merle… I am two years older than you…" Hitomi muttered over the "girl" comment, rolling her eyes.
"Silence!" Merle barked.
"Now! Were you or were you not attempting to bring harm upon King Van's only daughter and heir to the Fanelian throne?!"
"No… How could I harm her…?" Hitomi whispered before being cut off.
"Quite easily… The princess is world-renowned for her psychic abilities. There have been numerous attempts on her life since her powers first appeared." Merle explained.
"And when was that?" Hitomi asked curiously.
"I was in the garden with father…" The two women turned to see the girl in question standing there.
"Princess! Please return to your quarters!" Merle requested in a stern tone.
"No Merle…" The girl whispered, her emerald eyes glowing gloomily.
"This is my story."
"I was walking in the garden with father. He picked a flower for me and I smelled it. I then fell over backwards. It was dark… Very dark… Then I saw a serpent… It bit father and he died… When I woke up, I told father. He didn't believe me. I showed him where the snake emerged from in my vision, and sure enough, there it was. Father killed it and finally believed that I was telling the truth… My mother… My father told me that she was also a psychic. A very powerful one…"
"Indeed… She was Milady…" Merle said softly, bowing in respect for the young princess and the deceased queen.
"Would you like to see a portrait of her?" The girl turned to Hitomi.
"Who? Me?" Hitomi asked hesitantly.
"Alright…"
"Follow me…" The princess whispered, gliding off.
"But Lady Merle! The lady shouldn't move yet! Her body has been through a lot of trauma and she…" The healer protested.
"Oh shut up…" Merle muttered as they pushed past the disgruntled man, heading down the hallway.
"It's as beautiful as the castle in Palas…" Hitomi muttered.
"What was that?" Merle snapped.
"Nothing…" Hitomi whispered.
"Nothing at all…"
"This was a portrait of my mother and father… After their wedding…" The princess whispered, gesturing at the large portrait enclosed in a golden frame.
Hitomi turned to study it and gasped as her skin turned pale.
"It's me…" She whispered, just out of earshot. Sure, she looked younger, prettier, a bit different, but there was no denying that the girl in the painting was her. And the boy next to her was Van… She walked up and ran her hand across her milky-white face, noticing the sharp contrast compared to Van's tan complexion. They were in their wedding attire. Shining crowns atop their brows, smiling…
They're happy… But how…?
//Hitomi… Look into your heart…\\
"What?" Hitomi whispered. The voice she heard… The voice resounding throughout the room… It sounded like… But, no it could never be…
"Folken?" Hitomi asked softly, as the man supposedly dead nodded grimly.
"Who are you talking to ?!" Merle snapped.
Hitomi ignored the catwoman, as always…
"Folken… What…? What's going on…?" Hitomi asked softly as Merle gave her an odd look.
"Leave her alone… You are not one of those who would understand…" The princess whispered, closing her eyes to concentrate on the message.
"Lady…" Merle said softly, before bowing her head and moving away.
"Folken… Please… Talk to me…" Hitomi whispered.
//It was 15 years ago that I was killed… I have seen and heard things few else have ever seen… But… I can't see this go on any longer…\\
"What?" Hitomi asked in confusion.
//You… You love him… Van… And I know he cares for you… Do you remember?\\
"Remember… what?" Hitomi whispered, blinking in fright and confusion. What was he talking about?
//Memories… Of your past…\\
"Memories?" Hitomi asked softly, her eyes pulsating.
**Fanelia… The castle… Van… The ring… The wedding…**
"What does that mean?" Hitomi asked softly aloud after she had seen the blur of images.
//It means that you are not what you think you are…\\
"Than… Than what am I…?" Hitomi shrieked, descending into the blackness of unconscious.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N: Hitomi is singing/playing Hikari no Naka e. It's a great song that I suggest playing once or twice while reading this next section. It's on the 2nd Escaflowne Soundtrack. Oh, and the words in italics are the English Translations of the Japanese. It's just so you get the full impact, she's not singing Japanese and then English. Just wanted you to know… Enjoy!)
The keys of a piano moving. Up and down. A girl sat on a bench, her fingers gliding over the keys softly. Her light brown hair was tied back in a short ponytail. She was wearing a Kama Kita uniform and seemed oblivious to all around her. She began to sing softly to the song she was playing.
"Nigiri shimeta te wo hodoita nara tabun kore de subete ga ima owatte shimau… If I let go of your hand clasped in mine, With that, it would all probably come to an end right now. Shiritakatta koto kizutsuku koto sae mo nanihitotsu yarinokoshita mama de What I wanted to know, and even what hurts me- Even those were left undone. Anata ga deau shiawase wo negaitai hazu na no ni dekinai mijuku na jibun ni fuite mo namida ga deru Even though I should want to wish For you to find happiness, I can't, I'm too immature. I wipe the tears, but they still keep flowing.
Sayonara
aishite-iru
anata wo dare yori
sora yori mo fukaku
Sayonara.
I love you more than anyone else.
Even more deeply than the sky.
Nakanaide mata aou ne demo aenai koto watashi dake shitte-iru no
Don't cry.
We'll meet again, right?
But not being able to see you
Is something that only I know about
Konna unmei wo eranda koto itsuka anata ni mo hontou no imi ga wakaru wa This fate that we've chosen… Someday you too will understand its true meaning. Futari tsukutta kioku no takara zutto kokoro no kakure ya de ikite'ku yo The treasure of memories that we've made Will always live on deep inside my heart. Kireigoto da to omotte'ta kibou to iu kotoba wo kurushii kurai dakishimete anata wo miagete-iru I thought it was a beautiful thing, The word called hope. In an almost painful embrace, I'm looking up at you. Arigatou aishite-iru anata wo dare yori yume yori mo tsuyoku Arigatou. I love you More than anyone else. Even more strongly than dreams. Dakishimete hanasanaide dakedo hitokoto mo tsutaerarenaide… Hold me. Don't let go. But don't utter Even a single thing… Nakanaide aishite-iru tooku hanarete'te mo anata to ikite yukeru Don't cry. I love you. Even though we're separated far apart, I can still live with you…" She didn't notice the boy behind her. Not even when she stopped playing the beautiful song. He hid in the shadows, trying to hide his smile as he heard her sing. She sighed, closing her eyes and standing up. "Hitomi…" He whispered, not knowing if she'd hear. She blinked. Obviously in surprise. She slowly turned around. "Is it…? Is it…?" She was finally face to face with the speaker. "It's you…" She said softly in disbelief. "It's you… VAN!" She cried out happily, rushing into his arms. "Oh Van, I've missed you so much and I… Oh Van…" She snuggled her face into his chest, closing her eyes, smiling peacefully.
What am I seeing? Hitomi wondered, looking down at herself and Van. Did this happen? Herself and Van were talking softly and she couldn't make out what they were saying. Van gestured and the other Hitomi smiled, then frowned, then smiled, then frowned again. Then Van frowned, then they both were frowning and sat down. The other Hitomi looked at him and he returned her glance and he nodded, she sighed smiling reluctantly. Then they stood up. He held out the pendant, giving it to her and then, the light appeared and they were sent upwards, to Gaea, once more… "Hitomi!" She turned to see Van calling to her. He ran over. "Hey!" "Hi." She smiled at him.
"Sorry, the council meeting went over…" Van explained, catching his breath from the long sprint he'd made from the conference room to the gardens. "I'm still mad…" She replied in annoyance. "You're king, why can't you get them to end those stupid meetings on time?!" She turned to him in exasperation. "Considering I'm king, I have VERY little control…" He muttered, sweatdropping. "Some king…" She humphed, turning away from him. "Hey!" He said, not knowing how she had turned the tables to insult him so quickly. "'Hey' yourself…" She muttered, starting down the path. "You act like I try to make them do that…" He murmured in aggravation. "You might as well be…" She replied. "Oh this is pointless… We might as well not even be arguing… We both know neither of us will back down… We're both too stubborn… Might as well make peace." She nodded as he just smiled, joining her at her side as they walked through the thick grove of trees, cautiously moving his hand so it was holding hers lightly. "Relax. I don't bite." She smiled at him, although there was a tinge of blush on her cheeks. "I never know." He muttered.
"So… Why did you want to meet me out here anyway Van? It was obviously not because you were bored because you were already 20 minutes behind for all your meetings and appointments as you ran by and told me to wait in the garden for you…" Hitomi asked in puzzlement. "I wanted… I wanted to see you…" He said softly, blushing slightly. "Why? You've seen me every day for the past few months… I'd think you'd be sick of me by now…" She looked away, trying to hide her concern that that was the truth of the matter. "Well I'm not… Is that good enough for you?" He asked gently, touching her blushing face with his hand softly. "Yes… But seriously Van… Why did you bring me out here?" She found that they had come to Van's family's graveyard. It had an air of sadness and regret lingering about it and Hitomi bowed her head in respect for the souls of the people who now rested here. "I needed to gain approval…" He muttered more to himself than her. He looked up at graves of his parents and brother and wondered what they'd say if they knew what he was about to do. I hope… I hope the three of you… Are happy… And I hope you know that my decision will make me very happy as well… He closed his eyes, almost hearing his mother's gentle voice. He shook his head. He was crazy; it was all just an illusion anyway. When he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, he could see her. She smiled at him before fading away. Maybe he wasn't so crazy after all. I'll take that as a "Yes"… He decided.
"Hitomi…" He turned to her, noticing she was lying in a clearing filled with flowers. She was looking at the sky and he watched her thoughtfully. What did I do to deserve to find someone like her? He wondered, smiling softly. She made him do that. Smile. He hadn't done it much before he met her. He still didn't do it much now, but when he saw her, at times he couldn't help it. "Yes Van?" She raised her head and he noticed she had small white flowers braided in a chain around her head, making her look all the more angelic in the white dress she was wearing. "I know this will sound crazy… But I can't help it… You and I… We've known each other for almost a year now, haven't we?" He wandered over to where she was, laying down beside her. "Yes. A year and a day." "Wow, you've been keeping track?" He looked up in genuine surprise. "Yeah… I mean… A lot's happened… I want to remember it all…" She whispered. "I know we're only 16… But we've been through so much and…" He looked down at his feet. "Man… Why is this so hard to say?" He muttered.
"Van… What are you saying?" She asked softly. "Hitomi… I love you… Will you marry me?" He asked hesitantly as she looked at him in shock. "Please say yes… I promise I'll make you happy…" He whispered. "I know…" She murmured. "Yes." With that he took her hand in his and slid a silver band on her finger. Engraved in it were small words she couldn't make out. "Van… What does it say?" She whispered curiously. He didn't answer as their lips met and they kissed for the first time. As they broke the kiss, the question didn't seem to matter anymore. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "I now pronounce you husband and wife… 'Till death do you part… May your reign be a long and happy one… My Lord Van and Lady Hitomi…" The priest said softly, bowing. Hitomi blinked at him in surprise. She turned around to see thousands of people, row by row, one by one, bowing to her and Van. She took in a small gasp, seeing only the backs of the thousands of people. Her people. She then turned to Van.
"It's like a fairytale…" She whispered softly, looking at him with endearment in her emerald eyes.
"Now comes the happily ever after…" He whispered, as they kissed. Cheers echoed from the joyous crowd and fireworks went off. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Is this my past life? But how…? Why don't I remember this? Am I remembering it all just now? Hitomi wondered silently. "My Lady… I congratulate you… It's a beautiful baby girl…" A nurse said, handing the bedridden Hitomi an infant swaddled in a pink cloth. The baby opened her eyes and blinked. They reflected Hitomi's. A deep green. The baby yawned, closing its eyes before opening them again. "Oh my beautiful daughter… My beautiful little girl…" Hitomi whispered, stroking her tuft of brown hair, kissing her forehead softly. "Damn it! Let me in! It's my child!" Van yelled from the other side of the door. He broke through, the healers and nurses giving him murderous glances.
"Lord Van! Lady Hitomi needs to rest! The child is fine! LEAVE THEM BE!" The nurse shrieked. "I want to see her! Why won't you let me see her?! If something's happened I'll kill you! Damn it!" Van cursed. "Van…" Hitomi called out softly. "Hitomi…" He said loudly, in a gentle tone, rushing to her side as the nurse glared at him. "It's alright Van." She said softly. "Hitomi… I'm glad… I'm glad you're safe…"
"Why wouldn't I be?" She asked indignantly. "I don't know… It's just that… The child…" He gestured at the baby. "She's a Draconian…" "And why should that matter?" "Hitomi… She… She's like me… She's doomed… Doomed to be cursed… Forever… And it's my fault… I'm a curse to my own flesh…" Van whispered, bowing his head dejectedly. "You're not cursed. She's not cursed. Neither of you are cursed. I wish you understood that." She said, shaking her head. "Hitomi… You don't know what it's like… Having mothers make their children come inside when you come near… What it's like to go through life seeing people point and laugh… Watching people throw things at your mother when she walked through the village… Being afraid that you'll be betrayed and hunted down like an animal… Being afraid of something you can't control…" He looked out the window as the sun set. "Van… I'm the cursed girl from the Mystic Moon, don't you think I know what it's like to have people afraid of you? Allen told me once that when the Crusade first found out where I was from, they had spoken of killing me. They thought "my curse" would make the ship crash or cause a plague or something. Van, if anyone knows how you feel, I do. Please… Just trust me… Nothing bad will happen… Trust me…" Hitomi whispered, looking into his eyes.
"I always have…" He muttered as she held out the baby for him to see. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Hitomi…" The sophisticated looking woman said softly, hugging the young queen as only a dear friend would.
"Millerna… I can't believe you're married again… And to Dryden… Of all people…" Hitomi replied softly. "Yes… I was surprised myself… But I finally realized something…" "What?" Hitomi asked curiously.
"That Allen… He'd…" She looked out the window.
"He'd what?" Hitomi prodded. "He'd never see me as anything else but Marlene's little sister…" She turned around to face her, a tear shining in her eye. "I thought I loved him… I thought he loved me… But I was wrong… He'll never get over her… I always wanted him to… I thought he could… But he can't… He'll always love her…" Millerna whispered. "You know what they say… Love never dies…" Hitomi said softly.
"But why does it hurt so much?" Millerna whispered, tears running down her pale cheeks. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "So, this is her, eh? I've heard a lot about you little lady…" The blonde knight kneeled down to be eye-level with the young princess. "It's nice to meet you Sir Allen." The little girl said softly, curtsying before rushing to hide behind Hitomi's skirts. Hitomi laughed softly. "Dear… It's alright… Allen is an old friend… I know he looks scary, but he's actually pretty nice when he wants to be!" Hitomi smiled as Allen gave her an indignant look. "It's a pleasure to meet you, milady…" He said gallantly, bowing at the waist. "Allen… It's so great to see you again… We wish you'd visit more frequently. What has you so tied up that you can only make the time to see us once a year?" Hitomi asked, hugging the blushing knight as Van frowned a bit. "Yes, Allen, pray tell… What is keeping you away?" Van muttered. Sure, he and Hitomi had been married for 5 years and all, but he still didn't trust Allen. He probably never would. He didn't seem the least bit saddened by the knight's lack of presence. "You of course remember when King Aston died about half a year after Hitomi left, right Van?" Allen prompted. "Yes, of course. I was at the funeral. I don't know why I was invited. He tried to have me killed. Princess Eries thought I was a criminal and Millerna was off on some missionary job in Schezario…" Van said in a bored tone. "After King Aston's burial, Princess Millerna was informed that she was next in line to the throne. Before than however, Princess Eries decided that I was now to be ambassador to Basram…" Allen muttered in annoyance. "I know, of course, that the whole reason she did it was to keep me always from Millerna… What's new? Millerna refuses to reappoint me so I have been ambassador to Basram for quite a few years at this point. It's a very ugly place, Basram is. Did you know there isn't a single speck of green outside the palace in that entire country?" "Really?" Hitomi whispered in disbelief. She couldn't picture a place without trees or flowers, or even grass. "There's an indoor garden at the palace that puts the Fanelian gardens to shame. They're very beautiful, but no one outside the royal family and those who tend it have ever seen it. They live desolate lives. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live in that god-forsaken place…" Allen said rather quietly, closing his eyes as though visualizing it. "That's a shame. Maybe Millerna will reassign you now that she and Dryden are together. Then again, it's likely that Dryden will still think of you as a threat." Hitomi commented. "A threat for what?" Allen asked indignantly. "For Millerna…" Hitomi whispered. "She loves you… Or, I know she did love you… Very much… More than she'll probably ever care for Dryden… It must pain him greatly… To love someone who will never love you as much in return…" Hitomi said thoughtfully, turning away from the group. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Mother… Where are you…? Mother! It's time to go to the carnival…!" The little princess ran through the hallways, searching for Hitomi. She was clad in a green kimono; a green ribbon tied in her hair. She had a fan Allen had sent her for her birthday last year and was having trouble running in the ensemble. "Mother! This isn't funny! Where are you?!" The little girl yelled, running through room after room, to no avail. "Where could she be?" The girl muttered, scratching her head. "What's wrong?" Merle popped up in the princess's path. "Oh Merle… It's you… It's Mother… Can you help me find her…?" The girl asked hesitantly. "Sure!" Merle beamed, meowing and racing down the hallways. After several minutes she returned. "Lady… She's not in the castle, I've searched everywhere." "Do you think she left early?" The little girl asked in puzzlement. "Why would she? The girl hasn't run in years, and it's not like she took the carriage, considering the fact that it's still out front." Merle observed. "We have to find her… Lady Hitomi could be in grave danger…" Merle whispered, biting her lip. She remembered all the times Hitomi had been abducted or gotten lost… That girl was nothing but trouble. "Merle… Mother's alright, isn't she?" The girl whispered uncertainly. Merle glanced at the child in concern. "Yes… Your mother's fine Lady… She's just fine…" She said this more to reassure herself than the princess. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Hitomi gazed at the two moons in endless admiration. She blinked, wondering what was in store for her. Why hadn't she gone to wait by the carriage? Why wasn't she dressed for the carnival? Why was she standing on this bridge in the gardens, pulling petals off a rose, letting them sink beneath the water? "Why am I out here? I promised her… I… I should…" She whispered, turning to face the side entrance to the castle. "Why? Why is all this happening? I love Van… Why…?" She muttered, crying softly. She didn't know what was going on. Why she'd been so out there lately and ignored everyone. "I'll tell you what's going on…" A smooth voice whispered as she felt a sharp pain on her neck. Looking down she saw a trail of blood running down her pale skin. She grimaced, biting her lip. "It's time you get away from here… Lady Hitomi…" The voice whispered, as she dropped the rose into the water, looking into the crimson eyes of the madman himself. Dilandau Albatou. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Hitomi!" Van called, his voice echoing throughout the brightly-lit corridor. "Hitomi! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Merle had informed him of his wife's disappearing act and he was quite distraught. Was she hiding from him? He ran out on the balcony, letting the wind rustle his raven hair. His dark eyes were clouded with concern as he frowned. The moons… They were shifting… Aligning… What the heck is going on?! He screamed inwardly. ** "And when the moon eclipses the fifth time in the dragon's reign, the eyes will disappear… Leaving the dragon blind…" ** "The eclipse… The carnival… In celebration of my 5th year as king… Dragon… Eyes… HITOMI!" He screamed, leaping out the window and tearing his shirt into shreds as his wings unfurled, diving into the darkness. He landed in the gardens just as it began to rain. His tears became indistinguishable amongst the tears of heaven herself. He walked, his hair flat from the pressure, towards the bridge. He saw something on it and ran over to it. It was her pendant. It was glowing faintly pink. He leaned over, scooping it up and cradling it in his palm. ** As the last light snuffs out… And darkness falls… ** That was when the pendant stopped glowing.
"Hitomi…" He whispered, bowing his head in grief. For she was gone.
** The dragon shall be finished… **
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Kind of a cliffy… I know you guys love them so! ^_^ I'll probably add up chapter 4 between Saturday night and Wednesday night. Thanks for reading!
A Sneak Peak at "Forever In Your Memory- Chapter 4":
"What?" She whispered, staring up at the glow. It seemed to draw nearer… As though it were… Coming for her… With a sharp intake of breath, she saw him. It was a boy. And he had wings. He swooped down, locking eyes with hers. They were a deep amber. And fixed on her own, as though he was looking right through her. She looked fearfully, was he going to let her keep falling? Her eyes began to tear up. She was surprised then, when she felt a warmth surround her hand. She opened her eyes to see his hand was locked with hers. "I would never want to see you cry…" He said softly. Then the world went white.
"And you know I'd walk a thousand miles… If I could just see you… Tonight…" The girl on the radio sang, waking Hitomi as she rolled over, whacking her alarm in annoyance that it had ended her dream. "It was Van… Wasn't it?" She asked the silence.
"I know it was… There's no doubt… So… What do I do now?" She looked out the window as the sun rose, reflecting the uncertainty in her emerald eyes as she gazed out at the horizon.
Not as evil as many of my previews… PLEASE REVIEW!!! Arigatou and Sayonara! ^_^
~Trunks Gal~