Title: When I Talk To You
Author: Lady of the Ink
Pairing: V/H
Category: Suspense/Romance, with some good angst thrown in for flavor.
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, but you knew that. I hope. But I do own this story and all the plot twists it contains.

Chapter Thirteen
When You Were There

After Merle had left Corey and Yukari in the study, she'd made her way outside. A long, meandering walk had eaten up a few hours, but done nothing for her peace of mind. Thoughts had raced through her head, and all of them centered on a certain blond haired boy.

Every time she thought about being around him, a fluttering feeling would start in her stomach. It hadn't taken her long to come to the conclusion that she was getting a crush on him. While part of her was thrown off balance by the unfamiliar feelings, another reasoned that it was almost to be expected.

For all the nice people she had met, there were many that seemed almost aggressive towards her with their intense aversion. It wasn't so much what she was physically; it was about her familiarity with Lord Van. They seemed to resent her position as his friend, as though she were stepping above some invisible boundary. It was an attitude that, though she was uncomfortable with, she had become resigned to.

Then along comes a boy who not only treated her like everyone else, but actually seemed to like her. He was smart, funny, and immensely caring, if his devotion to Hitomi was anything to go by. He had the kind of personality that, although she had met him less than a day before, she felt like she had known him for much longer. And wasn't even getting into his looks. Out of all his features, it was his eyes that held her attention the most. The color, such an intense jade hue, reflected and implied depth at the same time.

Knowing she was being a coward by avoiding him, Merle found her way back to the house. Though it was only mid afternoon, she found that everyone had apparently gone to bed. It wasn't surprising after the night they'd all had. She felt like doing nothing more than falling into bed and sleeping for a week. Of course, with Yukari currently occupying that space, that wasn't an option.

The discovery that she wouldn't have to face the object of her confusion had brought on two immediate reactions. The first was a strong rush of relief. The second was anger at herself for that relief. She had been through some bad times and tough situations, and it had never shaken her like this. What was the matter with her when one boy had her running around in circles?

Merle sighed as she made her way to her improvised bed for the night. The divan in the parlor wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep, but it would do for a night or two. As soon as she was curled into a comfortable position, she forced all thoughts from her mind. Soon, the past days' events took their toll on her, and she drifted off to sleep.

Van woke to the brilliant colors of dawn coming through his window, and a warm weight on his chest. Blinking a few times, he stifled a yawn and looked down. A few strands of brownish-blonde hair tickled his chin when he moved, but he made no attempt to brush them away. He didn't want to risk his actions waking Hitomi.

Her head was tilted upwards, giving him an unobstructed view of her face. A dusky pink flush colored her cheeks, giving her formerly pale skin a healthier, more vibrant glow. Her lips were slightly parted, and he could feel the slow, even puffs of air through the material of his shirt as she breathed.

A smile curved his lips as he watched her. A feeling of contentment rose in his chest. After months of not hearing from her, of not knowing if she was okay, Hitomi had returned to Gaea. She was in his arms, and if her mood the night before had been any indication, she was happy to be there.

He let himself imagine what it would be like to wake like this every morning. To have the first thing he saw upon opening his eyes be her face. To know that at any given moment, he could find his way to her side, could reach out and touch her.

A dark cloud passed over his mood as his thoughts drifted back. Corey had said Hitomi got upset over not being able to warn him of some impending danger. It was just like her to put her worry about others before herself. But just because she had been worried didn't mean she was back on Gaea to stay. Maybe now that they had found her, she would pass on her warning and just as quickly return to the Mystic Moon.

He frowned, his thoughts going back to their short conversation the night before. Raking his mind, he tried to pick out some clue she might have given about her feelings. Was coming here simply the only way to speak to him, or was this where she wanted to be? What were the chances of this visit becoming something more permanent?

That brought up thoughts of Yukari and Corey. Even if Hitomi decided to stay, what would happen to her brother and best friend? They probably wanted to go home, though with Corey, that possibility was a little less certain. But even if Corey decided to stay, that still left their parents. Hitomi had left Gaea once for missing her family. Would she do the same thing again?

Before his upsetting thoughts could infuse him completely, he felt Hitomi shift against him. The frown vanished from his face as he waited. Hitomi murmured, rubbing her cheek against his chest. He felt her take a deep breath, then watched as her brow furrowed. A moment later, her eyes fluttered open.

Van knew the exact moment Hitomi realized where she was. She stiffened, glanced at his face, and then sat up abruptly. Propping himself against the headboard, he watched as she raked both hands through her hair. Hiding a smile, he followed her movements as she flattened a palm on either side of her legs, then immediately crossed her arms across her chest. When she finally stopped fidgeting, her hands were folded in her lap, and her head was tipped forward till her hair hid most of her face from view.

Feeling unsure of himself, Van looked around the sparsely furnished room, focusing on anything but the girl in front of him. The time to herself must have allowed Hitomi to gather her thoughts, because it was barely a moment later when she spoke.

"Um, good morning," she whispered, the cheery tone she tried for infused with uncertainty. Hearing it, Van reined in his curiosity and decided to let her direct the conversation.

"Good morning."

"So it wasn't a dream?" Van shook his head. She laughed nervously. Stealing a look at him, her eyes were a flash of green peeking through her hair. Her head remained tilted downward as she began to speak. "This is so strange. For so long, all I've wanted was to talk to you. Now, you're right there, and I can't think of a thing to say."

Van was torn. He wanted to grab her and hold her tight, but there was too much he didn't know. To say the things he longed to say, to bind her to him with words and actions, would be hurtful for them both. Every stitch and tie holding them together would just be another wound should she decide to leave.

But if he said nothing, gave her no clue about how he felt, he risked having her think it didn't matter to him whether she stayed or went.

Gathering his courage, his took a chance and slowly reached out. Untangling her hands, he gently held one between both of his own. He could feel their joined hands trembling, but couldn't tell if it was just from him, or Hitomi as well. Taking a deep breath, he waited for her questioning gaze to lock on his face before he spoke.

"I'm glad you're here." Such simple words that in no way expressed the extent of his feelings. For an agonizing moment that seemed to stretch for ages, he waited for her response.

"So am I." Her softly voiced response was accompanied by a squeeze of her hand. Van let out the breath he hadn't even realized he was holding. It wasn't a statement of undying love or a desire to stay here forever. But it was something. And for now, that was enough.

Hitomi straightened abruptly, alarm flaring across her face. "Corey?" she asked. Van rushed to reassure her.

"He's sleeping, right across the hall. He's fine. Yukari too."

"Yukari?!" He nodded. Her brow creased in thought. "I remember her being with Corey, but she left. How did she . . ."

Van shrugged, then quickly filled her in on everything he knew, ending with the fact that everyone would probably sleep in. "None of us got much sleep last night."

Hitomi hung her head. "I'm sorry if I caused trouble. I . . ."

"No!" Van exclaimed earnestly. Lifting her chin with a finger, he met her gaze. "Hitomi, we need to talk. It's something we should have done a long time ago." At her slight nod, he searched for just the right words. "When you left last time, there was something I wanted to say. Something I regretted not telling you. You see, I . . ."

Before he could continue, a loud pounding broke out from somewhere below. Casting a regretful look at Hitomi, he jumped from the bed. Opening the window, he leaned he head over the sill and called out to the man knocking on the front door. As the man looked up, Van caught the faintest hint of a scent on the air. Alarm rippled down his spine. Even before the visitor's lips formed the word, Van knew what he was going to say.

"Fire!"

It was the hour of mixed night and day, when the songs of birds began but stars still graced the highest peaks of the azure sky. Dew lay heavily on the grass, its appearance accompanied by the fresh scent of a new day. No breeze dove through the air, no animals moved through the underbrush. All was still. It was in the midst of this calm that Corey found himself.

The sound of voices came to him, faint but clear. Without thought, he tried to move towards them, certain that he recognized one of them. As he moved, he realized he wasn't walking, but rather floating. A quiet groan escaped his lips as he become aware of what was going on.

"Another vision. Just great," he muttered as he continued forward. He was following a path that was barely recognizable as such. It was little more than bare patches every few feet, as though it were newly formed or little used. He had just crested a small rise when he saw them.

Four scruffy men stood blocking the path. Directly before them, sprawled as though she had just fallen, was Merle. As he watched, the men said something to her that caused her to flinch. She moved as though to edge away, but one of the men quickly blocked her path.

Corey was moving before he knew it, rushing to her side. He swung a hand at the man, only to have it pass right through his arm before he realized this wasn't happening anywhere but in his mind.

Yet.

Knowing this was a vision, he became determined to remember everything about it that he could. That way, when it began to happen for real, he could be there to put an end to it. Tamping down on his anger, he froze as the biggest man began to step closer to Merle.

One hand dropped to grab her chin, giving her no choice but to look up. When he kept pulling, she was forced to her hands and knees to keep her neck from being broken. That continued until she was balanced on the tips of her toes.

When his hand slid down to wrap around her throat, Corey felt a pure rush of fury like nothing he had ever felt before. A sound surprisingly close to a growl bubbled from his throat as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

When this vision became reality, someone was going to pay.

The three men still huddled behind the first were sneering as they watched the scene unfold before them. When the leader lifted Merle off her feet and she began gasping for air, the men laughed.

In an apparent burst of strength, Merle lashed out with her leg, catching the man directly in the stomach. As he went down and the others stared in incomprehension, she tore off towards the woods on all fours. Corey gave a victory whoop, both hands punching towards the sky. He made a face at the group, forgetting that they couldn't see him.

His pleasure faded when the boss managed to get to his feet, and swatted the others into action. They took off running after Merle. Soon, all signs of them vanished into the forest.

When Corey would have gone after them, he found he couldn't move. A moments' thought had him remembering the first vision. That one must have started where this one left off. He didn't need to give chase, because he already knew what would happen.

A tight knot of fear twisted itself to life in his stomach as he noticed the time the vision was set in. It was early morning, and that meant only one thing. Merle had said she was going to the market first thing in the morning, so that must have been where she was headed when she ran into the lowlifes.

Corey yelled as his frustration mounted. Merle was going to walk blithely into trouble, never guessing what was in store for her. He could warn her; she was right down the hall. But fat lot of good that did him, stuck as he was in this dream world. He had to wake up, had to warn her . . .

Corey sat up in bed with a start, cold sweat coating his skin. Panting for breath, he rubbed a hand through his hair. As the images from his vision came back to him, he swore fiercely, rolling from the bed. He hit the floor on all fours, but quickly gained his feet. Heading to the window, he yelped as his foot slammed into the leg of a stand. A few limping strides later, he flung the casement open.

Sparkling beams of sunlight flashed across his face, and Corey slumped against the wall in dejection. He was too late. The sun was already rising, which meant Merle had left by now.

Catching himself, Corey stood up straight. The only way Merle was going to get hurt was if he stood here brooding. The sooner he left, the better his chance of catching up to her. There was no way he was going to let the little matter of a head start keep him from reaching her in time. She wasn't going to know a moments fear if he could help it.

Sprinting to the other side of the room, Corey yanked open the door . . . And immediately slammed into something.

Next Chapter: When I Needed You Most