Did You Ever Love Somebody
Did you ever love somebody?
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody?
Even though it hurt to
Did you ever love somebody?
Nothing else you heart could do
Did you ever love somebody?
Who never knew?
*On the a freeway heading toward Hama Rikyu Garden, Tokyo, Japan, Earth *
Millie squirmed the car trip was taking forever! Why couldn't Ojisan Mamoru just drive faster! Her legs were getting sore. Pursing her lips, she looked over at her mother who had her head rested against the back of the car seat. Reaching up she poke her mother lightly in the arm.
"Huh, are we there yet?" Hitomi half grunted as she was suddenly woken up by something poking her in the arm incessantly.
"No" laughed her brother looking at her through the rearview mirror "I think that Millie just wanted something" turning his eyes back to the road, although the gardens were in Tokyo it was a good 3-hour drive from Hitomi's apartment and they still had an hour left to go.
"Okaasan, tell me a story please" asked Millie snuggling up to her mother's shoulder.
"Aino-chan, what do you want to hear?" questioned her mother laughing, her baby always wanted a story and usually the one about a place called Gaea.
"The one about you and the angel!" cried the little girl excitedly, that was her favorite story, her mommy had been telling it to her as bedtime story as long as she could remember. It was also the first book her mommy had ever written and it was the most famous. Even if Uncle Dilandau was evil in it.
"Not that one again" moaned Mamoru from the front seat, he knew it was Millie's favorite but he'd heard enough of it. Not to mention it always made him uncomfortable to talk about his sister's delusional account for her disappearance when she was fifteen.
"Oh lighten up Mamo-chan, let her have her story it won't kill you to hear it once more!" chided Hitomi to her younger brother
"Yosha! Have your story but you owe me big time squirt!" he told Millie seriously but Hitomi could see the smile that was hidden in his eyes. Mamoru loved Millie almost as much as Hitomi herself did and had a tendency to spoil her when ever he was in town to visit his family.
"Yay" squealed Millie clapping her small hands together excitedly she settled down next to her mother ready for her story.
Hitomi smiled at her small daughter, and wrapped her arm around her shoulders and began to talk in a slow, sweet voice that even her brother was drawn into the familiar tale just as he was the first time he heard it when Hitomi had returned home.
Did you ever lay your head down?
On the shoulder of a good friend
And then had to look away somehow
Had to hide the way you felt for them
Have you ever prayed the day would come?
You'd hear them say they feel it too
Did you ever love someone?
Who never knew?
I do.
* Outside Hitomi's Apartment Building, Tokyo, Japan, Earth *
A light pummeled full force towards the earth at an alarming rate. As the light faded it deposited a small crowd of people dressed in medieval clothes on the sidewalk.
"Van, Where are we?" asked Millerna shaking slightly at her surroundings, she had known the Phantom Moon would not be like Gaea but this was far worse then what ever she had fabricated in her mind. This place was so cold feeling, all stone and wood buildings reaching up past that sky. And it smelled terrible, but worst of all everyone was dressed so funny yet they were staring at HER!
"I don't know, Millerna but I'm going to ask that man there maybe if were lucky he'll know Hitomi." Van said looking around quickly he hadn't thought about the idea that they wouldn't land wherever Hitomi was. Walking over to the man in front of the largest of the stone buildings "excuse me sir?"
"Yes?" asked the old man calmly looking at these strange people, eyeing the swords they wore wearily.
"Do you know a young lady by the name of Hitomi Kanzaki?" Vans asked trying not to sound like a complete idiot.
The older man smiled "Yes sir I do, she lives up on the fifteenth floor, but I'm afraid you missed her and her friend, they've gone to the wedding, well Hitomi left a few hours ago for practices but you just missed Yukari."
"Wedding?" Van asked trying to hide the fear in his voice.
"Yes sir, the Kanzaki/Albatou wedding today at sunset." He continued to smile.
"Dilandau Albatou?" Van questioned looking very confused; Dilandau was Celena wasn't he? And Hitomi marrying him. That couldn't happen, once when they where on Gaea together she had told him that she found Dilandau repulsive.
"Yes sir, you must know them, I'll be heading out there myself shortly if you'd like a ride." the man offered happy to help any friend of Miss Kanzaki.
"Yes Thank..." Van started to thank the man for his kindness but was cut off by Millerna screaming
"A DEMON, A DEMON!" Millerna cried hysterically, cowering behind Dryden.
Van and the man rushed over to her asking what was wrong she pointed to a car that had driven up and parked across the street.
"That's only a car miss!" the man chuckled at her hysterics
"What does it want?" she squeaked from the safety of her husbands side, HE would protect her from that horrid beast.
"It don't want nothing ma'am, it's just a mode o' transportation. And your going to get in one if you intend to be going to that wedding." The man who was the doorman and a friend of Hitomi's explained, wondering where in the world a nice young lady like Miss Kanzaki had met these excitable Amish folk.
And if you did
Well you know I'd understand
I could, I would
More then anybody can
*Hama Rikyu Garden, Tokyo, Japan, Earth *
Hitomi sighed her feet were aching, they had been in practices since the moment that they had set foot outside her brother's car. Everybody was stressed and nothing was going right, the caterers were late and tents that were supposed to be set up for the reception were still spread out on the ground because somebody had given the work crew the wrong date. So now the groom, her father, her brother and Amano were trying to but them up themselves, which was not working very well.
"Hitomi! Come quick, we have another problem!" she heard her mother run up to her panting.
"What is it Okaasan?" Hitomi asked racing over to her mother.
"It's Naomi, she's hyperventilating in the tent the boys set up for the girls changing room! And I can't find Tsuki or Millie any where!" her mother wailed today was not going according to plan she had always dreamed of her girls' wedding day but one thing went wrong and then another. Her first heartache was Tsuki her youngest child, she was always the problem child in the family. First having Millie un-wed and then giving the baby to her older sister to look after and making her pay her money for the baby was unreasonable. Today she was so scared that Tsuki would be drunk or high at the wedding that she had kept an eye over her baby girl practically the whole time until half an hour ago when she had sneaked off. Mamoru the second youngest who lived so far away that he almost couldn't have made it to his own sister's wedding. Now Naomi, one of the twins, Hitomi's to be exact, they were fraternal twins but the still looked very similar except in height Hitomi was taller, bust this time Naomi was slightly larger and eye-color Naomi had blue eyes to Hitomi's green. Their personalities were also different, Naomi lacked the responsibility and calmness of her twin but she was more aggressive in getting what she wanted and much more out going. They were smart, kind, and caring individuals with the same bad temper. Hitomi was braver in facing fears, always finished what she started, was way too stubborn, worked herself to hard, was overly positive, tried to help others in bad situations, had an amazing imagination, and was way more collected in bad situations. Naomi was a bit of a scatterbrain, had a tendency to jump from one great plan to the next, was the actress, was always cheerful, loved life, made the rest of the world happy and unlike her sister she ran in terror in bad situations then fought through them. They had both chosen artistic careers Naomi was a famous actress where as Hitomi was a novelist. They both had taken martial arts and weaponry when they were sixteen and had taken part in school sports one in soccer the other in track. But now Naomi was nervous and scared that things would not turn out perfectly and began to freak out, things that made her herself were working against her.
"Okaasan it'll be okay, Tsuki was by the caterers truck flirting last time I saw her, Millie is watching the guys finish putting up the last two tents and I'll go talk to Naomi. You go and check on the flowers all right. Shimpai Shinai " Hitomi told her mom kindly, her mother was such a worrier at times.
Walking off toward the tent, were her twin sister was, she almost literally ran into Tsuki who was as her mother had feared, completely loaded out of her tree with alcohol.
"Tsuki! What were you thinking! The wedding is only an 2 hours away!" Hitomi scolded her sister putting her arm around her shoulders she half lead half dragged her out toward the tent and her other sister.
"Naomi? Are you in here?" Hitomi asked as she reached the flap of the tent back with some difficulty due to her younger sister's weight.
"Yeah" a voice rasped out, the voice Hitomi could barely recognized as that of her sister's because it was so clogged up with tears.
Walking in to the tent Hitomi dumped Tsuki into a chair before hurrying to her other sister.
"What's the matter Hun?" Hitomi asked noticing for the first time that her sister was already dressed for the wedding.
Did you ever love somebody?
So much that the earth moved
Did you ever love somebody?
Even though it hurt to
Did you ever love somebody?
Nothing else your heart could do
Did you ever love somebody?
Like I love you
Like I love you
Like I love you...
* At Sunset, Hama Rikyu Garden, Tokyo, Japan, Earth *
Van stepped out of the mini-van and stretched, the trip had taken several hours, much longer then it normally would which was what Mr. Sato the man that had driven them had told him. He had also told Van that even though they were going over the speed limit to get there on time, they would still be late because of the frequent stops that they had to make for Millerna who they discovered got extreme motion sickness.
"Van sir, that's the wedding march there, we had best find some seats near the back so we won't be disturbing nobody. We've missed the flower girl, ring bearer and the bride's maids but if we hurry we can see the bride be given away." Chirped the old man cheerfully.
Van turned to his friends and repeated what the old man said since they seemed very scared of him since the commotion with the car. Soon the were all seated at the back but he could still see the bride, she was lovely, her hair was pulled up in soft curls and had a long white misty veil that covered her face and went down to trail on floor for a good few inches. Her dress was a pure white it had a corset styled bodice incrusted with diamonds and lace long white silk gloves and a full white skirt that was layers upon layers of gauze. He was almost sure it was Hitomi but for some reason he kept thinking it wasn't. He looked up to the groom who was to his horror Dilandau Albatou, the same one who destroyed Fanelia and killed thousands on Gaea and here he was marring HIS Hitomi.
Merle saw it to only un-like Van she was not going to let this marriage happen, leaping to her feet she yelled at the top of her lungs "STOP". Taking off her hooded cape she and her husband both had to wear to hide the fact they were cats she did not care if she scared the earthlings at this point it got in her way. Throwing the cape to the ground and then marching straight up to the spot under a three that they were using as an altar she stepped up to the bride and slapped her hard screaming "YOU STUPID SLUT, HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO LORD VAN?" The bride however after stepping back from the first attack saw her assailant was a cat fainted dead away.
Millie who had fallen asleep and was leaning against one of the bride's maids woke with a start when someone had screamed stop. Rubbing her eyes she looked at the person who had caused the commotion and ruined a perfectly good nap, the person was a CAT! She had reddish pink hair that was braided and went down her back and she wore an orange medieval style dress like the ones all the princesses wore in her storybooks at home. Then it hit her the only place their where neko-people was in her mother's story, the story was REAL! Hopping to her feet she headed over to the stranger.
"Excuse me miss, but are you from my story?" asked the little four year old looking at the cat-woman patiently waiting for her answer.
"What did you say?" asked Merle in amazement that there was a child talking to and how much she resembled Hitomi, they could be mother and daughter, which Merle reasoned was not all that impossible but if it was then it would just kill Van.
"I said are you from my story, the one my mommy tells me before I go to bed, its about another world that has angels and dragons. And I don't know why but my Uncle Dilandau is in it and he's evil which is silly 'cuz him and my mommy…" Millie continued cheerfully. That is until Hitomi came out of her shock at seeing Merle again stepped forward.
"Aino-chan that is quite enough!" Hitomi chided stepping over quickly trying not to trip on the hem of her gown.
"Yes Okaasan" Millie muttered dully no one ever let her finish talking for some reason.
"Angel why don't you go see if your Aunt Naomi is ok" Hitomi asked bending down to almost her daughter's height she added, "Mommy has some talking to do with this nice lady ok." She smiled and brushed off her skirt as she stood up.
"Yeah, I got it grown up stuff that goes in to the section I'll tell you when your older." Millie said gloomily and walked over to her Aunt.
"Well Merle, how have you been" she asked turning around to face Merle.
"Hitomi, is that you, I thought that you had fainted in fact there you are right now." Merle babbled in shock pointing to the bride who was currently laying on the ground being poked by the little girl that had just been their and called Hitomi mother… which meant… oh poor Lord Van!
"Merle I suppose you mean you thought that I was getting married which I'm not, the girl you knocked out was my twin sister Naomi, which reminds me Millie stop that this instant, Dilandau stop staring like an idiot and move her please!" Hitomi changing her voice from almost laughing to the sergeant like voice of a mother.
"So your not getting married?" Merle asked excitedly
"No I'm not and have no intention to for the time being, Millie STOP!" Hitomi replied
"That little girl is she yours?" Merle asked silently praying that she wasn't for Lord Van's sake.
"Yes Merle she is, her name is Millerna or as everyone here calls her Millie." Hitomi beamed
"Did someone mention me?" asked Millerna walking up from behind Hitomi and Merle.
"Millerna? Where did you come from?" asked Hitomi
"Oh from the back, I got bored and wanted to see what was going on, we couldn't see very well because…" she began
"We?" Hitomi asked, she thought to herself, did all of Gaea come?
"Oh just Dryden, Van, Allen, Celena, Chid and Darien. Any way like I was saying we were really late because of those monster things that you people…" she continued getting more annoyed slightly at being interrupted again.
"Van is here?" Hitomi pressed she could feel her face paling, why was she acting like this? She had sworn to herself to forget about Van Fanel when he stopped talking to her eight years ago without even a goodbye. So why was her stomach doing flip-flops at his name?
"Yes I'm here Hitomi" a deep tenor voice said from somewhere behind the girls
Turning around at the voice Hitomi whispered "Van is it really you?"
A/N- Hi people how are you all, I finished another chapter and have made a decision I have decided to put a hold on all other stories but one and then when I finish that one I'll do another. So here is what you people at home have to do you have to read my other stuff and tell in a review what one you want me to finish first second and so forth. So until I'm told which to write, all other writing will be put on hold.
Mini Dictionary of Japanese words used in this Chapter
Ojisan- Uncle
Okaasan- Mother
Aino-chan- Sweetheart
Yosha- Alright
Shimpai Shinai- don't worry about it
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or her characters. I also don't own the song used in this chapter it is by Jessica Simpson. I do own:
*Earth People * Millie (Hitomi's daughter not Millerna),
Mr. Sato (the doorman),
Naomi (Hitomi's twin sister),
Tsuki (Hitomi's drug addicted sister),
Mamoru (who is the name of Hitomi's brother in the show but he is only mentioned in the version I have seen so I'm counting him as half mine and half the people who created Escaflowne),
Uncle Kengi (Hitomi's fat Uncle).
*Gaea People * Darien (Merle's Husband),
Emily (Merle's Daughter).
C-ya