Meant for Each Other
Hey! How's everyone? Still esca-crazed? ^___^ Well, I THINK I can explain about me not updating for so long. (Friends start to mention how I haven't updated since APRIL of last year). Ugh…well, let me explain. I mean, everyone has the rights to have an attorney before her death sentence right?? -_- Okay, last summer I had to move from Canada to the states. So I spent my summer packing and cleaning and making my house all shiny for the people who bought our house. Then I moved here. I was kind of down because I missed my friends really much and because I haven't made that many friends here yet. I mean, what did I expect, the same amount of friends that I had made in Canada for several years compared to here, which I have lived for five months? Lol. O yeah, a note to my old friends: don't worry, I haven't forgotten you people! ^___^ And then I had to get used to the stuff they had here, not to mention clean up our new house a bit. Also, our house here is tiny compared to the one we had! Also, I had to study my SATs now, even though I'm still pretty young. I know more words now though, I THINK. So I was pretty busy. Yeah, I know that shouldn't be my excuse for not updating, but it is. I am SO sorry for the lateness of this chappie, so I am updating now. And don't worry, I haven't abandoned my story, and I won't! Just to warn some people, this chappie might be a little sad for some…but I won't tell any further, because you'll have to read by yourself! ^__^ Thanks for waiting patiently (hopefully) for this chappie, I thank ye all! Oh and consider this chappie to be umm…both Christmas and New Year's present? I know, yes, it is WAY beyond that, but *shrugs*. On to the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: Escaflowne don't belong to me. Never will. I own the story, but not people from Escaflowne. On to the story! (Hope this'll satisfy you people for a while, before I update again)
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Chapter 16
Farewell for Now
Hitomi sat in traveling carriage, looking longingly out the window to the fertile greenland. She sat in repose, with a feeling of nostalgia, back to the past months spent with Van. Indeed, everyday was spent in a somewhat complete joy, but she had never imagined the end to arrive so hastily. Currently with her servant Marc, Hitomi pondered back to the morning that seemed so fine. The day began as usual, with green emeralds greeting red rubies. They had a few days off from the tortuous boot camp, due to the courtesy of the sergeant's wife. The soldiers of the camp had gone through intense lessons of strategy, swordsmanship, guymelef and hand combat, as well as much other training. Yes, boot camp was almost over and done with. Hitomi and Van were still in their room, minu, chatting pleasantly.
"Say, after boot camp is completed, do you want to go traveling?" Van asked, hopeful. He hadn't bothered to include 'with me' into the question, because he knew Hitomi understood.
Hitomi giggled. "Oh, you mean like a honeymoon?"
Van, in return, blushed. "Hey! Don't think any evil thoughts. I am an honorable man…I would not," with that, he gulped, "without marrying that special someone first. Besides, we are not even married!" He then thought silently to himself, "I wish I could take you as a wife, girl. You are perfect to be the queen of Fanelia and mine. You possess the intelligence and elegance of royalty, as well as the kindness and sympathy towards the unfortunate. Why, the generals would insist you to be my queen, if they have the chance to meet you. Drat those advisors…" He stared at Hitomi, not knowing that he spoke out loud.
"Van…?"
"Yeah?" Van said, supine.
"…I heard everything…" Hitomi replied without looking up.
"…?!" With that, Van propped himself up to a sitting position, startled. "How much of everything?!" He questioned urgently, clearly not wanting to appear sentimental in front of her.
Just then, a series of heavy pounding interrupted.
Hitomi and Van glanced at each other, then at the door. Hitomi felt an uncomfortable feeling towards the interloper, while Van thrust out his Fanelian sword. "Come in," he simply stated, a bit savage, as he had felt a bit of Hitomi's unease.
A young man burst in, no younger than fifteen. He stared at both Van and Hitomi, but Hitomi especially. Van glared back, gripping his weapon harder. Hitomi, on the other hand, took one brief glance at the seemingly stranger and behind Van, took a seat in silent defiance.
The interrupter actually took a slight resemblance to Van. He, too, had tanned skin and was lean overall, as well as having a head full of unruly hair. However, while Van's eyes were a shining red, the stranger's own a dull brown colour. The difference between the two is their personalities reflected in their eyes, and this difference greatly separates the two. This fact alone explains why Hitomi is in love with Van and not at all with this other man. After all, Hitomi does not concern herself with appearances in choosing a man. This man whom Hitomi knew very well.
"I finally found you, Lady H--" he, the stranger, yelled excitedly.
"Shut up!" Hitomi shouted, trying to drown out his voice with her own, and gave him a death glare.
Van, feeling just a wee bit left out, asked urgently, "You, who are you? And who is she?? The latter part he directed at Hitomi.
The young man introduced himself. "I, sir, am Marc of Kanzakia. I came searching for her." He indicated towards Hitomi with a tilt of his head. "As for her…" With that, he knelt before Hitomi, "…she is…" he shuts up instantly, after receiving one of her tell-and-die glares.
"…IS…?!" Van almost exploded, filling with expectation and confusion.
"NO ONE!" Hitomi yelled, acting hysterical. "You see…we were…um…playing a game! Yeah, that's it, a game! You see, we were playing…hide and seek. He was seeking, and I was hiding! Awww…you found me!" She laughed unenthusiastically.
Marc grinned wickedly. He decided to go along with Hitomi's utter lie. After all, he is but a teenager. "Yes, that's it, basically. I apologize if this lady here did not inform you of this. Lady, you should be ashamed; now, say sorry."
"Wha…?" Hitomi pondered at Marc's sudden sincerity and immediately understoof his intentions. So, she thought, he is trying to make fun of me, huh? Wait until later, Marc, when I torture you in every way possible in Kanzakia. Obviously she did not mean it, because it was only thought in anger. "Sorry…"
Van, still deeply sunken in confusion, looked at Hitomi, unblinking.
Marc, tracing Van's gaze, interrupted. In the end, he still has his duty to fulfill. Clearing his throat, he said, hoping for the control of Hitomi's anger, "And now, I must escort you back to Kanzakia, to be wed. Fun and games are over."
"Wait, wait, wait…she's not going anywhere!" And as Marc's words finally caught up with his mind, Van shouted, "What?! To be wed?"
"WHAT?" Hitomi screamed, unhesitant. She did not know of such an event. Why, she had not even consented to marriage! However, jus as she was about to turn to marc to question him, Van wheeled on her.
"I thou-I thought that you were my-! I mean, how could you do THIS-" he gestured to both himself and Hitomi, "when you were to be-to be we-I can't even say the word!"
Hitomi attempted to calm Van down. "I did not know of this!"
"Oh, then you just happened to be engaged to someone you do not even recognize?" Van questioned, with an edge to his voice.
"Van…" Hitomi whispered desperately.
"People don't just get married without love you know!" Van choked out.
Yes they do. Royalties do, Hitomi thought with tears in her eyes.
Van, remembering that there was another presence in the room, calmed down. "Leave me alone," he said without emotion and walked stiffly outside.
"Van…?" Hitomi cried out, getting to her feet.
"Get. Off. My. Back." Van spat out before leaving.
Now Marc felt sorry for his actions. After all, he had indirectly hurt the person whom he had served for so many years. Just realizing the two people's love for each other, he finally recognized that he had stepped in between their relationship. Emotional pains were the hardest to bear. And judging from the scene that just occurred, he could feel that love that this "Van" has for his master. A person does not get angry unless he cares about something. Wait, the name reminds him of someone. "Van"…Van…Van of Fanelia. Fanelia? Van in Fanelia, Van of Fanelia. Van Fanel! The prince of Fanelia. Wait…but wasn't there a coronation or something recently? Marc gulped, for the new king of course! "So…that would mean," with that, he unconsciously glanced to the door, "that…" the king of Fanelia just bestowed his presence in front of me, a humble servant, without demanding any respect! Uh oh…if I got on his bad side. Oh my gosh! That would mean…he stared at Hitomi, Princess Hitomi. He grinned, a trace of expectancy lingering on his face.
"Lady Hitomi, weep not. Instead, prepare for your upcoming wedding."
Hitomi slowly calmed down. It was no use taking it out on Marc, considering that Van was already furious anyways. She has no mental strength to blame Marc. "Let me pack in peace."
And with that, Marc obediently left the room, waiting outside for their departure.
* * *
After a while, Van came back into minu, feeling cooled down. Hitomi was still packing her personal belongings.
"What are you doing?" Van questioned, curious along with a sense of dread.
"Packing."
"Where are you going?" Van demanded, more alert now.
"Kanzakia." Again, without emotion.
"Why?"
"Because." A simple answer.
"Look! I am sorry for what I said earlier. It's just tha-you- I mean, my-argh! I can't express myself, I know…but must you leave?" Van blurted out.
Hitomi finally finished packing and turned to look at Van. He had a hopeless expression on his face, something that his words alone can never explain. She held his gaze as she simply stated, "I must."
Van looked away.
Hitomi forced his head back. "Just…just let me look at you once more. I want to remember you as a man who smiles so handsomely and warmly. I want to treasure this image in my head. I am sorry for-"
"Forget it," Van replied, holding up his forefinger to her lips.
"I cannot disobey my father any further. But, I want you to know this…though my physical body may not be with you, my soul will be, for I have fallen in love with you."
"But I want all of you," Van pouted.
Hitomi smiled gently. "No can do, Van. The world is not perfect. Serious, for a king of Fanelia to be so childish, hehe. Anyways, try to remember me too, although I doubt it, considering that you'll probably have a wife hanging off your arm pretty soon," she joked without laughter.
"Never!" Van embraced her tightly. "Do not think of me as this shallow."
She grinned happily for a second, with tearful blinks. "I'll leave some of my belongings with you, in remembrance of me. Oh yeah, and this pendant." With that, she handed him her most treasured item. "Keep it, for my sake."
Van simply stared at her present to him. In this simple gift are all the happiness, love, and everything that the two shared. It is the symbol for the relationship between them. And now, it was handed back to him. Ironic that he is given a present, but at the same time his own love back. Van closed his eyes hard, scrunching his nose. All he could manage is to have her snug in his grasp.
Hitomi gently struggled out of his embrace. "I must take my leave."
"You realize that I will not bid you farewell? That I do not consider this goodbye?" Van whispered, almost without any expression.
"Yes, I know." Hitomi touched her forehead to his, and walked out calmly, without once looking back. To see him again, I will lose my confidence, she contemplated.
Van sat, unmoving. Whether he stayed this way for several hours or only for a few minutes is not known; it makes no difference. In the end, he finally snapped out of his trance. He walked slowly to the cabinet that Hitomi used to store her personal belongings and opened it. He was missing her already. It is not that he could not survive without her for even a minute, but the fact that her body now belongs to another man both disgusts and saddens him.
* * *
Hitomi sighed, and then turned her head inside the moving carriage to glare at Marc again. Marc chuckled uneasily, but then grinned with some devilish thoughts as to what will occur in the future. He is anticipating for the best…fate has its ways…
* * *
Lying down on his bed, Van took a book out from Hitomi's cabinet. He had decided to return to the Fanelian palace. Boot camp was done anyways, and after that girl left, he would not stay either. Unconsciously, he opened the novel to its first page. There, in majestic handwriting, was written the message:
To my darling daughter, Hitomi.
"Hitomi…"
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maniac bubblicous: So, how WAS it? ^___^""" I hope y'all liked it! I mean, it was much wanted of me to update so I hope it satisfied you all. O and yeah, for those people who know what I am talking about, MARK? LMAO! ^___^ Please leave a review of your opinions. I know, limited vocabulary here, but I was rushing to get this chappie out early. I mean, I wrote it out and typed it in the same day! I feel happy lol. And thanks for reading this chappie! See y'all next time!
Maniac bubblicous ^^~^@^
January 21, 2003