Meant for Each Other
Hello! Why does it seem that I have to apologize to you perfect readers every time I update? I'm sorry! It's because I am SO lazy that I cannot believe myself. I can't believe I haven't updated in AT LEAST a month! *Bows* If I caused you any ill will in any way, kick me! But first, let me warn you people of the after effects…I will be hurt so bad that I'll have to stay in the hospital for over a year! Well, not that much! I'm kidding! ~^ .^~ I'm SURE that you PEACEFUL readers won't do anything to me…I hope! *Gulps* I'm sorry about the lateness of this chapter, but it's partly because of my oncoming homework, my speech, and my socials project, all due in the same week! Can you believe that? Thank you for following faithfully to my chapters…I can only bow to you in absolute admiration. Ant thanks to those people who reviewed! You're the best…and just to mention once again, the reviews are my soul. *Laughs* I hoped not, but it is! Anyways, disclaimer!
Disclaimer: *Coughs and starts to talk in high-pitched voice* I'm sorry, but that "malfunction" was due to the fact that the author *Glares at writer* did not give me enough practice for over one month! Am I asking too much? I mean, here I am, talking away my best years, and all for what? Nothing! Not even a pay cheque! *Looks over at writer and demands a cheque* *Writer sees and pretends not to see* *Disclaimer sighs and continues with his unhappy job* Vision of Escaflowne, be it from the series or the movie, is not in any way owned by the writer of this fiction. However, the characters and places as well as events that she made up are of hers. The characters, plot, places, events from Escaflowne doesn't belong to her. Anyways, story time!
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Chapter 14
Arrows of Cupid
Cupid sat on the window ledge, watching the couple sleeping beside each other. Unknown to them, Cupid has been watching them for a fair amount of time. How they first met, their growing relationship…etc. His wings ruffled in the wind. One would have mistaken him for a Draconian without his bow and arrows of love. That is…if they can see him. Draconians…he got nothing against them. So what if a Draconian is in love with a normal girl? Love conquers all. Wait…he sensed something different about the sandy-haired girl. Why…she's—just as he thought…meant for each other. Their eyes, so passionate in their own ways…their heart, beating ever so strongly…their determination, costing both fortunate and unfortunate events…their identity…
Cupid examined one of his arrows. It shone faintly, reflecting the rays of the upcoming sunrise. A fine arrowhead, carved by himself, he proudly added. The feathers at the end of the arrow, creating a shine of their own, are from the rare type of enchanted birds, phoenixes, the symbol of fire and passion.
He was truly proud of these two. Without his help, they had come to love each other. By using their own skills. He sighed. There are not much people like them left in the world. However long their journey is, he was sure they would make it. He believes it wholeheartedly. Time to fly off…they're waking up. Smiling a contented grin, Cupid glanced at his blessed couple and flew off, leaving only the trace of feathers and the light of adoration.
Sunlight shone through the window and tackled Hitomi's face. She tried to block its rays, however unsuccessful.
Then she remembered.
Honestly, what was I thinking? Hitomi questioned herself. She could feel her face getting hot. Why did I do that of all things? Why do I have…this emotion…towards him? Of all the suitors that offered me the heaven, I fell for a man that didn't even bother to write a letter. He binds me from my freedom, yet…I enjoy it. Hitomi stared blankly at the boyish face of Van, studying every feature.
"Van…" she whispered, hopefully waking him up.
Van did not reply; he wasn't asleep though. He was busy rewinding the scene that took place last night where Hitomi kissed him willingly.
"Van?" Hitomi said his name, a little worried.
No reply once again. He was now replaying the scene, watching it dreamily.
"VAN!" Hitomi shouted, right then expecting a response.
No answer. Watching from all angles, as if during the moment of the kiss he was not in his body, he stares admiringly at the paused image in his mind.
Hitomi shook him violently. Afraid for his life. What if he was in a coma? She slapped his face many times, each slap harder than the previous as desperate tears flowed freely down her face. Van's lifeless eyes became clear and bright again.
"Why did you slap me? I was having a nice dream," Van sulked, unhappy.
"Oh. Well sorry, Mr. Fanel. Personally, I thought that you had a coma and wanted to save your life," Hitomi tried to mollify him. (Author's Little Pathetic Note: If you wonderful people do not know what mollify means, I had no idea either until I checked it out with a dictionary. ^.^~ It means to calm down.) She ended up hugging him longingly, meanwhile trying to stop the tears from her eyes.
"Why are you hugging me?" Van, startled, asked.
This question, simple as it may, stunned Hitomi. She did not think when she hugged him; she did not think when she kissed him. She simply let instinct take over. Was thinking a barrier? (Another Author's Little Pathetic Note: Now we're getting into deep thinking here.) Does thinking make one wise? A foolish man knows nothing yet he survives in the world, happy and unaware of danger; he is more likely to perish. A wise man knows and spends much time thinking, aware of danger and is constantly on guard; he is less likely to die. But in truth, who lives a better life? She would not let her heart speak.
"Because I felt like it," she answered, after much pondering.
"Then why did you kiss me last night?" Van asked again.
"Just because." She would not let out what her heart had been screaming. She wasn't sure what Van felt and surely wasn't about to ask. As much as she wants to know, she wasn't ready to face a rejection, should it ever come. She wasn't…no yet.
Her hands dropped to her sides as she moved into the bathroom to change silently. Van just watched her go inside and got out of bed. His roommate immediately pulled him off to cabin A.
* * *
"So exactly what are we doing today?" Hitomi asked right after the grand speech the sergeant proudly announced.
"Archery. You up for it, girl?" Van answered.
"Good. Been training all my life," Hitomi replied, confident.
* * *
How can he be that good? Hitomi thought, brows tightened. Sweat dripped down her face, which was slightly hot due to the heat. Her breath was short and fast, her heart pounding fast. It was the face-off, the moment that will determine the history and the victor. A face-off between herself and Van.
She wasn't afraid to let him win. Indeed not. She was going to try her best. Archery is a skill, and not a plaything. It requires patience, strength, and concentration. The mind must be clear and the target must be known well. Hitomi closed her eyes. She imagined that besides herself, the royalties of Gaea are all without the skills in fighting, but clearly that was not the case. Van was an example. A fine example. He was not cheap, snobby, greedy, and all the things that a normal king was. He was instead, trustworthy, nice, and the way a person should be. Was it the way…the different way that his parents tutored him? Hitomi's nose wrinkled, as she stood frozen in concentration. Why must I think about him now? She could feel hundreds of trainees watching this competition, reading her motion.
She mustn't make a mistake and get found out.
Her first arrow and bow. Ah, she remembers it well. Given fatherly by her father, the King of Kanzakia, she started training herself. It was hard at first. She was barely able to twang the bowstring, but her father had patience. He taught her again and again the skill of archery. Little by little, she got better; from shooting a log, she could shoot a bird out of the sky with no trouble. From slow, hard pulling of the bowstring, she now has the ability to shoot an arrow as graceful as playing a lyre.
She plucked at the bowstring a couple of times. She listened to the sound. "Not bad, sergeant. Your bow is in good shape." Then, as gently as the wind, she stood in position. She got out one of the arrows, examined it thoroughly, and decided on using it. She had a firm grip on the wooden part of the bow and started to stretch the bowstring. She kept on stretching it, making it look like no strength was needed, and the wood began to bend. It was bending, bending, and still Hitomi didn't stop. Until the last moment when it looked as if the wood was about to split, Hitomi opened her eyes and released the bowstring.
Van could see at the last second how her eyes were like. NO life, no sparkle. Just a dull green. It was as if then she was possessed. She moved like she was playing a lyre and could be shattered into a thousand uncountable pieces if the wind was strong. No…she was the wind. She was a fairy, dancing and as carefree as a bird. But during that moment, it was as if a wave of sleepiness covered the ever-energetic woman.
But the shot was right on target. It was perfect. It aimed true and so it struck true.
It was Van's turn.
Van got in position. Like Hitomi, he collected his concentration, and calm; he was sweating just as much as she was breathing rapidly. Unlike her, Van, when shooting, had a mind full of action. Sweet memories would choose this time to gang up and spread like wildfire. His first archery lesson. Miniature bows and arrows. His archery instructors, Folken and Balgus. He would not think of the sad moments spread throughout his life during that time; he thinks only of the spring, its flourishing enchantment rekindling the spirits covered by the barren winter. He sees only the people whom he had pleasure known: Folken; his parents, Goau and Varie; Balgus; Merle…that girl. That girl who has short sandy brown hair and green emerald eyes. He thinks of her now.
Swoosh!
The arrow struck true.
Hitomi watched Van's eyes in amazement. So full of life they were, reflecting emotions that he would not show. How they twinkled when they met hers. How his tiny smile warmed her heart and cheek.
The sergeant announced the tie.
Clearing her mind of all thoughts, she was prepared to shoot. Suddenly, an image of Van swam noiselessly into her mind. Frustrated, she tried to bury it into a corner, but it wouldn't budge. She was agitated and let out a shaky sigh. A sudden idea came to her. She began picturing the pendant passed from her grandmother and felt calm wash over her. She released the bowstring. It was bull's-eye.
Van's turn.
He had a much harder time coping with his mind. Come on Fanel, let the little lady win already, his mind thought out, you know you like her. His heart pumped, stop that! He has to realize for himself! Will you all shut up? I'm trying to do archery here, Van silently cursed his heart and mind, but knew that he couldn't deceive himself. Immediately, his mind sent him a remembered moment whether he liked it or not. It was of one with his mother, Varie, when he was young. Queen Varie had said, "Van, you mustn't show your wings to just anyone; show it to someone who understands at a necessary time. Remember it; only when it is necessary must you show your wings to one who understands. If the individual is a male, you can most likely trust him; if a female saw your Draconian features, she is most likely your soul mate". Van was prepared to shoot as he had shoved this remembrance into the depths of his mind. But just as he released the arrow, her mother's voice rang out only to his ears. "Listen to your heart, Van!" The arrow missed a good ten centimeters.
However, Hitomi wasn't cheering for her well fortune. She was sadly looking at Van, who hung his head low and mouthed the word 'mother'. A silver tear dripped down. Van was no crybaby, Hitomi knew. He was thinking of his mother, his mother who passed away. He doesn't in the least way care about his loss over the archery competition; he was depressed at the memory. Hitomi knew that without that piece of memory that disrupted Van's thoughts, he could have beaten her.
While the small crowd cheered partly because the competition finally ended, and partially because of the outstanding match, Hitomi walked up to Van and whispered, "Let's go back to the cabin."
As if Van had sensed what Hitomi had gathered from his previous actions, he just nodded and using one hand, reached for Hitomi's waist. Hitomi didn't cringe back. She just patted him on the back and sort of hugged him fondly.
They walked back, unnoticed by everyone except Sharon, who turned on a blind eye and secretly wished them success on their upcoming relationship.
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Maniac bubblicous: Hey! How was it? I've written this chapter a while ago, a REALLY long time ago. Plus, I've written this chapter at two in the morning, so don't expect any good grammar or grand vocabulary. And now I'm typing this out, but I'm way too lazy to change anything. Please don't kill me. *laughs* Well as usual, please put in your opinions and suggestions. As for the ending, don't worry; it'll come soon enough *winks*. Right now, I'm listening to this Escaflowne song, and…it actually matches PERFECTLY with the falling snowflakes. So pretty! *Sighs happily* Thanks for reading, and until next time, bye byeZ!
Maniac bubblicous ^^~ ^@^
March 19, 2002