Note: I now know how to make the words italicized, bolded, or underlined.
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of it's characters.
The Black Dragon
Chapter 4: More questions and some answers
By Gaean_Angel
As they walked through the streets of Fanelia, Hitomi took in all of the beauty of the city. "It's beautiful" Hitomi commented.
"I knew you would like it. They always do a marvelous job," Van said.
"They do this every year?" Hitomi questioned.
"Yes, and somehow they do a better job than last year" Merle stated.
"It's hard to imagine how. This is wonderful" Hitomi was still in awe.
Van smiled at the way Hitomi's eyes lit up even more as they walked through the streets. "You wanna know what's really funny? They always do it when the Mystic Moon and the lunar moon is at its brightest. Every year they do that. I think it just works out that way," Merle said.
"Could be a big coincidence," Yukari said.
"No, when I was a little kid growing up, the carnival was always on the night when the moons were the brightest" Van explained.
"Like a tradition?" Amano inquired.
"Most likely" Van stated.
Hitomi noticed some small children playing in the streets. They had a brown ball with them. One of the smaller girls practically ran over Hitomi.
"To be young without a care in the world" Yukari commented.
"Ha! Being young doesn't mean you don't have a care in the world" Merle said.
"It's a saying from earth" Yukari explained.
"Earth?" Merle interrogated.
"The Mystic Moon" Hitomi automatically responded. "It means that children always play like their immune to the dangers of the world. They have nothing to worry about. No problems that bothers them" she continued to explain.
"Come on please?" Hitomi heard a small girl ask.
"No, you can't play" A small boy told her.
"And why not?" Hitomi inquired.
"Cause people say she's a Draconian" The small boy replied.
"You listen here. You can't tell her she can't play because of rumors. Even in that is true, nothing's wrong with it. There's nothing wrong with being a Draconian. She's not cursed and neither are any other Draconians" Hitomi scolded the young boy.
"It's bad luck" The boy stood his ground.
"For whom?" Van asked.
"Everyone involved Your Highness" The boy bowed.
Hitomi giggled. "What's your name?" Hitomi asked the small girl.
"Arianna" She replied.
"Come here" Hitomi took the girl into her arms.
"Don't listen to him or any other person who said Draconians are bad. They're angels who watch over the people they love" Hitomi told her.
Van smiled. "How do you know?" The boy asked.
"Because I know a Draconian and he wouldn't hurt me or anyone no matter what was at cost. He's saved me many times. He's not cursed. He was and still is my guardian angel. And you wanna know a secret?" Hitomi said.
"Yes please" Arianna said.
"I love that Draconian with all of my heart and soul," Hitomi said.
"Does he know?" Arianna asked.
"I think so, but I may have to tell him" Hitomi said.
"Can I watch?" Arianna asked.
"Maybe" Hitomi said.
"Thank you" Arianna said.
Hitomi smiled. "What's your name anyway?" Hitomi asked.
"Luke" The boy replied.
"Well, Luke, I think you need to get to know the person before you judge. Now will you let her play?" Hitomi asked.
"No, she can't play. She's a girl. They have to play with their dollies" Luke responded.
"Sound familiar?" Yukari asked.
Hitomi laughed. "Very much so" Hitomi said.
The boys always said that to Hitomi and Yukari when they wanted to play sport with the boy when they were growing up. "It gets tiring after a while. I guess some things never change no matter what planet you're from" Hitomi observed.
"Apparently" Yukari said.
"Would you like to stay with us for a while Arianna?" Hitomi asked.
"If that's okay with you and your friends" Arianna said.
"Sure, I don't mind. I think it would be fun," Merle said.
"I don't care" Amano said.
"Sounds fun" Yukari said.
"Van?" Hitomi asked.
He smirked. "Sure"
"Thank you Your Highness" Arianna said.
The night drug on and Arianna reminded Hitomi so much of herself when she was younger. It was getting late when Hitomi asked, "Do you want to go home to your family?" Hitomi asked.
"I don't have any family. They died when Fanelia burned two years ago. I was only four at the time, but I remember it all" Arianna sounded so melancholy.
Hitomi wanted to cry. To find out and remember the fire that destroyed Fanelia at that early an age. "Where do you live?" Yukari asked.
"At the orphanage, but I don't have many friends because of what do you call them 'rumors' of me being a Draconian" Arianna said.
"Is it true?" Van asked.
"The rumors. I'd rather not say, but I was taught to be truthful to everyone. Yes, I am. And I hate it" Arianna said.
Hitomi looked over towards Van. "Arianna, would you like to stay at the castle for a while?" Van asked.
Merle's eyes opened up with shock. "You don't mind?" Arianna asked.
"Not at all" Van said.
"On one condition. You have to call me Ari," She said.
"Deal" Van took her into his arms.
"He's going to be an excellent father" Yukari whispered in her best friend's ear.
"I was just thinking the same thing," Hitomi said.
Ari yawned. "Merle would you take Ari to the castle and settle her in to a nice room?" Van asked.
"Sure. Come on squirt" Merle said.
"I'm not a squirt!" Ari said.
Merle picked Ari up and headed back towards the castle. Hitomi smiled. "What are you smiling for?" Yukari asked.
"She reminds me of myself when I was her age. She's so full of energy. I was like that until my grandmother died. After she died, I kinda just pulled back into a shell. With her parents gone, she might end up like I did" Hitomi said.
"In a way that would be a good thing. She would find the guy of her dreams when she was fifteen" Yukari said.
"I was lucky. I was able to find the guy of my dreams. Van's more than perfect, he's like my soul mate" Hitomi said.
"Just like I know Amano's the right guy for me," Yukari said. Before Hitomi could say anything, Amano and Van interrupted her. "What are you two talking about?" Amano asked.
"Guys and how things change and stay the same over periods of time" Yukari said.
"Well, the little brat is down. She's sleeping" Merle said.
"She's not a brat. She's an innocent child stuck in the middle of rumors. Rumors that no one should have to go through" Hitomi said.
"You are really passionate about certain things aren't you?" Caleb asked.
"Not so much passionate, but caring about things. Ari shouldn't be the victim of rumors, especially of being a Draconian. I don't care if it is true" Hitomi said.
"You and I should talk sometime," Caleb said.
"Why?" Hitomi asked.
"Let's just say his heritage is like mine" Van said.
Hitomi's face showed pure shock. "I thought that you were the only Draconian alive. I never thought that there would be other Draconians out there. When I found out Ari was a Draconian, I must admit I'm shocked, but to find out that Caleb is. And you didn't tell me sooner?" Hitomi asked.
"We really haven't had time to really sit down and talk. Believe me I would have gotten around to it" Van said, innocently.
"Well, I guess you're right" Hitomi said.
"Okay, now what? There's so much to do, and we don't all night" Yukari said.
"You guys go ahead. I wish to have some time alone with Hitomi" Van told the rest of the group. Yukari went with Amano, while Merle and Caleb walked their separate ways. "What's up. Is something bothering you?" Hitomi asked.
"Nothing is bothering me except for the fact that I need some time alone with you. We still have much catching up to do" Van said.
"So where do we start?" Hitomi asked.
"Life in general. Yukari and Amano both mentioned someone coming to you before you came here. They didn't say much, but they did say she made you have a vision. When I questioned them about it, they avoided it. What did you see? Obviously it was something of great importance if you had to come here and see if everything was alright," Van said.
"In all reality, me being here could cause my vision of occur. I...I can't speak of the vision. I'd rather not. I know what it means, and I know what I have to do to prevent it, so there's nothing to really tell" Hitomi said.
"Don't you avoid the question too. Hitomi this has something to do with Gaea. I know it does. I know you too well to know what it has to do with. Don't leave me in the dark. I'm begging you" Van said.
"This isn't the place to say anything about it" Hitomi said.
"I know where no one will come and bother us. Follow me" Van said. Hitomi followed him to a hill up behind the castle. "I come up here a lot if I wanna be alone. It's peaceful and serene. Even Merle doesn't know I come up here," Van said.
"I guess that comes in handy" Hitomi commented.
"Don't try and get around the question" Van said.
"I saw a dragon. He…he killed you right in front of me and I was powerless to stop him. There was so much blood…" Hitomi's voice trailed off.
"What was the weather like?" Van interrogated.
"It was warm and sunny. I think it was a summer morning" She stated.
Van noticed her uneasiness about talking about her vision. He walked over to her and pulled her in his arms. "Awwww……how sweet" A insidious voice behind them said.
The pair of lovers turned to see Adelphus standing behind them. Hitomi gasped while Van drew his sword. "I don't want to fight Fanel. I just wish to talk" The man said.
"About what?" Van hissed.
"About something your little wench said. She mentioned something about a dragon. Was is black?" The general asked.
"Why do you want to know the details of my vision?" Hitomi asked.
"There's a tale that refers to a black dragon. It's a female and a protector of a royal bloodline of Draconians. It says that a princess with her past unknown to her will be revealed by this dragon. This princess with the dragon's help will cover all of Gaea in peace. I wish to kill this dragon," Adelphus said.
"If you want to kill this dragon, why should I tell you anything?" Hitomi demanded.
"Because if you don't, I'll torture and kill your lover right in front of you" Adelphus said.
Talk about a rock and a hard place. Hitomi thought. Her head was demanding that she tell him nothing, but her heart would allow it. It would allow her to betray Van.
"Yes" Hitomi said.
"Yes, what? That it was black?" Adelphus asked.
Hitomi nodded her head in agreement. "Where is it?" Adelphus asked.
"I don't know" whispered Hitomi.
"What?" Adelphus asked.
"I said I don't know!" Hitomi shouted.
"Very well……I'll find it myself" The General said as he walked away.
"Hitomi, let's go back to the palace" Van suggested.
Hitomi, though not too keen on the idea, went anyway. She retired to her room and changed her clothes before going to sleep.
I hope you've enjoyed this new chapter. The next one should be out close to the end of Jan. Because my updates are as you can see, few and far between, if you would like to be put on a mailing list, please email me at gaean_angel@hotmail.com. When you do please put FANFIC in the subject header. If not it will be dismissed and trashed. Thank you. Well that's about it. Until next time. CYA!~
Gaean_Angel