Disclaimer: All Escaflowne characters and references belong to their respective owners. The song No Need to Promise and translation belong to the company that recorded and were used in this story with the best of intentions. Story elements © Hideki LaShae. No money was gained in the writing of this story.
Dedicated to my group of friends, who even though they see me as more than just a little crazy still stand by me when I need someone to talk to.
Good-bye, Gaia!
By Hideki LaShae
Chapter Two: A World Without Hope.
Was it all just a dream or maybe a vision? No, no, it couldn't have been! I know it really happened! It all started when I was with my best friends, Yukari and Amano! I had this terrible vision that Fanelia was burning again. I called on Van to take me back to Gaia where I learned that a strange disease is killing everyone I care about…
Allen Shezar walks into the living room of his home. His waist long blond hair trails behind him like a cape. His blue eyes rest on the young woman sleeping in a chair. "Van?"
"I'm in the kitchen with Hitomi," calls Van Fanel, the current King of Fanelia.
Allen looks at the sleeping woman again.
The woman, Hitomi Kanzaki, sleeps with her head against a small pillow. Her light brown hair falls around her face in a boyish fashion.
"You mean Baby Hitomi," says Allen.
"Who else would I mean?" asks Van walking into the living room with a brown haired baby in his arms, "She's asleep." His brown eyes look towards Hitomi as she sleeps. A lock of his disheveled black hair falls towards his eyes.
"Did Baby Hitomi tire her out?" asks Allen taking his step-daughter from Van.
Van smiles. "She's been crying ever since we left the hospital. First hungry, then sleepy, then just cranky. Hitomi got the baby to sleep then she fell asleep."
Allen sets the baby, Hitomi Marlene, down in the bassinette and covers her with a blanket. "The men will have the Crusade ready to leave at first light. Where do you think we should head?"
"Where's the map?" asks Van.
Allen pulls a scroll case from the bookshelf and opens it. He draws out a slightly tattered roll of parchment, and he spreads it out on the kitchen table.
Van pulls off the necklace that Hitomi had given him, and he dangles the pink stone over the map. He moves the pendant over the surface of the map. "Hitomi taught me how to dowse."
"I can see that," says Allen.
The pendant swings over the Duchy of Freid.
"We'll go to see Prince Chid," says Van placing the necklace back around his neck.
"It's burning," whispers Hitomi in her sleep, "Everything is burning."
Van looks at Hitomi quickly. "Hitomi!"
Hitomi's green eyes snap open. Her gaze sweeps around the room to take in her surroundings. "Van! Allen!"
"Hitomi! Are you all right?" asks Van.
Hitomi nods.
"You were talking in your sleep. You said everything's burning," says Allen, "What was burning?"
"Fanelia. I was looking at it from the air… as if I was flying," says Hitomi quietly, "It was burning."
"Was it a dream or a vision?" asks Allen.
"I think it was both," says Hitomi, "We're planning on leaving soon, aren't we?"
"In the morning we'll head to the Duchy of Freid to speak to Prince Chid," says Van, "Maybe he'll know of a place that the disease hasn't touched yet."
Hitomi stands up and grabs her tarot deck from her bag. "I promised Merle another reading. I'll use the kitchen table."
"We'll watch," says Van following Hitomi into the kitchen.
Hitomi sits down and pulls the blank card from the deck. She sets it aside on the table, face down. Then she starts to shuffle the cards.
Allen walks into the doorway and leans against the wall.
Van sits down across from Hitomi and rubs the pink stone pendant in his hand.
Hitomi lays out the first six cards with their faces down. She holds the deck in her left hand as she turns over the first card. "The Three of Swords."
"Same as last time," says Allen.
Hitomi flips over the next two cards.
"The World and the Sun," says Van.
Hitomi turns over the next two cards. "The Hermit."
"The Three of Cups," says Allen.
Hitomi trembles as she turns over the sixth card. She mumbles the name, "Death."
"Keep going, Hitomi," says Van still holding the stone on its chain around his neck.
Hitomi draws the top card from her deck and lays it face up on the table. "The Moon."
Hitomi draws the last three cards and lays them face up in order.
"Three of Coins. The Fool, and the spare card," says Van. He turns the card over that had been set aside at the beginning. "And here is the High Priestess."
"It's exactly the same as last time," says Allen, "So it must not be a random mistake."
Hitomi sets the deck down, and she lifts the cards from the reading. She places them in the order in which they were drawn with the High Priestess on the bottom. She sets them all aside. "In that case, I'll ask a different question and force a different reading by not using those cards."
"Ask a different question?" replies Allen looking at Hitomi with his eyebrows crumpled in confusion, "What was the original question?"
"Well, I only thought the question. I didn't say it out loud," explains Hitomi shuffling the remainder of the deck, "My first question was… What caused the disease on Gaia? This time my question is a bit more personal. I'm asking about my future…" Her cheeks redden. "… with Van."
Van blushes. "If you want to know that, you should just ask me."
"I know, but that wouldn't test my tarot cards!" exclaims Hitomi with a smile. She lays out ten cards face down on the table. She turns over the first card. At the sight of the Three of Swords, she turns over the remaining cards. "Three of Swords. World. Sun. Hermit. Three of Cups. Death. Moon. Three of Coins. Fool. The spare card."
"That means the next card in the deck should be the High Priestess," says Allen.
Hitomi draws the top card from her deck and lays it face up on the table. "The High Priestess. The same reading as before. Which means other cards were displaced."
"But what cards?" asks Van.
Hitomi sets the deck down and lifts the eleven cards she'd set aside earlier. She lays them all out face-up, partially over the top of her first reading. "The Empress. That must mean me, a strong yet emotional woman. The King of Dragons. You, Van."
"Go on," says Van gazing intently at Hitomi as she works her 'Magic'.
"This card means an emotional fulfillment and this one means a parting of ways. It's what happened when I went home to the Mystic Moon," says Hitomi, "The Two of Cups. A new phase in a relationship is starting."
"And the next card is the lovers," says Allen, "Does that mean you'll marry Van?"
"Not necessarily." Hitomi blushes again, this time a deep burgundy. "It just means we'll have an intense or a loving relationship."
Allen nods his head.
"Next is the Page of Wands," says Hitomi, "It means travel is near. And then the Seven of Swords. A sacrifice. The Tower. That's the card of distant separation. Then the Ten of Cups… Emotional commitments."
"We'll be separated again, won't we?" asks Van sadly.
Hitomi nods her head slowly.
"So this last card. What's it mean?" asks Allen lifting the card.
"The Knight of Cups. I think that's you, Allen. You have no place in me and Van's emotional future. You may be with us but the feelings Van and I have won't be affected by you," explains Hitomi.
"So what does all this mean?" asks Allen indicating the table full of cards.
"Even though it's meaning is still unclear, my first reading was accurate." Hitomi gathers up all her cards and places them back in her deck.
Baby Hitomi starts to cry from her bassinette in the living room.
"I'll get her," says Allen walking back into the living room.
"About this second reading, Hitomi," says Van standing up, "I don't want you to ever leave me!"
"I don't want that either," says Hitomi as she stands to face Van.
Van takes the tarot cards from Hitomi and sets them on the table. He pulls her into his arms and presses his lips firmly to her own.
Hitomi wraps her arms around Van as he kisses her. She pulls out of the kiss slowly and embraces him. "Let's just forget that reading, Van! We'll make our own future!"
"Yes, Hitomi," says Van holding her close.
* * *
Hitomi walks to the hospital as the sun sets in the distance. She hurries to Millerna's room. She opens the door and walks in. "Good evening, Millerna."
"Hitomi, what are you doing here?" asks Millerna, "You should have left with the others!"
"We're all leaving in the morning," says Hitomi sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"You should have already left! The longer you stay here, the easier it would be for you all to get sick!" exclaims Millerna crying.
"Oh, Millerna… Don't worry about us."
"What else can I do?" asks Millerna. She bites her lower lip apprehensively and sighs. "Hitomi, can I ask you for some advice?"
"Yes, Millerna," says Hitomi setting her hand gently on top of Millerna's.
"I had a very strange dream."
"A dream? Go on and tell me about it… My grandmother used to tell me that dreams gave us the answers to questions we haven't asked yet," says Hitomi.
Millerna nods. "Allen, little Hitomi, and I were in this strange land. I think we might have been on the Mystic Moon because I didn't see it in the sky. Everyone wore strange clothes…"
"And what happened?" asks Hitomi.
"We went into a large building together. It seemed deserted until we stepped into a room. It was full of people your age. All the girls were dressed just like you. You were there as well," says Millerna, "What do you think it could mean?"
"Well, I won't lie to you," says Hitomi, "I don't really understand it either. It sounds like you went to my school on the Mystic Moon. But that isn't possible, is it?"
"I don't know. I didn't look sick." Millerna pulls her blanket a little further up over her.
"Was Van there?"
"I didn't see Van."
Hitomi hangs her shoulders sulkily.
"What's wrong, Hitomi?" asks Millerna.
"Van promised me that if I return to the Mystic Moon, he's coming with me," says Hitomi.
"Oh! So you think if my dream comes true that he broke his promise!" exclaims Millerna.
"Oh, I know it's silly, Millerna! I would love for you, Allen, and Baby Hitomi to come to the Mystic Moon. I could show you everything like grocery stores and carnivals, and McDonalds!" exclaims Hitomi, "I think you could really enjoy everything the Mystic Moon has to offer, but… If Van's not there, I don't want to be there!"
"You say a lot of things I don't understand, Hitomi!" says Millerna giggling, "Like grocery store and McDonalds, but I know what you mean about Van. Thank you for coming to visit me, Hitomi. Now go home to Van."
Hitomi smiles. She embraces Millerna quickly. "I'll come see you tomorrow."
"Don't. Just go in the morning. Take my daughter and go," says Millerna, "Take care of her! Keep her safe!"
"Would you hate me if I had to take her to the Mystic Moon to be safe?"
"Oh, no, Hitomi!" exclaims Millerna, "I want you to do whatever you need to in order to keep Hitomi safe!"
"Thank you, Millerna!" exclaims Hitomi, "Your daughter will be safe with me. Allen was Dryden's choice as a father figure for her, and I'm sure he'll be a wonderful help to me protecting your baby girl!" She smiles and heads to the door. She stops and turns to look at the blond haired beauty.
Millerna's blond hair hangs down to her waist. Her eyes are a beautiful blue. She has only one flaw… her skin is dried and cracking like an old painting that hasn't yet been restored.
"We'll see each other again, Millerna. It's our destiny to meet again, in this life or the next," says Hitomi, "You are the last girl friend I have on Gaia. Merle passed on this morning."
"We will see each other again. In the place we all go once we die," says Millerna.
Hitomi turns away as the tears start rolling down Millerna's cheeks. She walks out and returns to Allen's home. She slowly walks through the door into the kitchen where Van holds Baby Hitomi.
Van rocks the baby trying to quiet her crying.
Allen stands at the fire trying to make up a bottle of warm milk.
"Let me do that, Allen," says Hitomi walking over to him.
"I'm sorry, Hitomi. I'm not very talented at cooking," says Allen. He passes the bottle to Hitomi.
Hitomi tests the temperature of the milk on her wrist. "Ouch! That's way too hot!"
"If we don't hurry up, I think she's going to eat me!" exclaims Van.
"I wish I would have known about little Hitomi. I would have brought a pacifier," says Hitomi putting some cool milk into the pot of hot milk. She empties the bottle and stirs the milk in the pot. She fills the bottle again and checks it on her wrist. "And now it's too cold! I added too much cool milk. This is an exact science all on its own!"
Van rocks Baby Hitomi as she cries.
"Van, do you think you could fix the milk?" asks Hitomi. "It should be warm… um… lukewarm. Test it on your wrist."
"Yes. I can do that," says Van.
"I'll take Baby Hitomi upstairs. Bring the milk when it's ready and knock loudly before you come in," says Hitomi taking the baby from Van.
"What are you going to do?" asks Allen.
"We have a parental planning class at school that everyone has to take," explains Hitomi as her entire face turns red with embarrassment, "The class says to suckle the baby with a pacifier until you can get their food ready. Since we don't have a pacifier, I'm going to suckle her myself." She carries the child upstairs to the double bed. She lays Baby Hitomi on the bed. She removes her jacket and undoes her shirt. She unclasps her bra and lifts Baby Hitomi. She whispers, "I know this will be awkward, Hitomi. I'm not your mom, and I don't have any milk to give you."
Baby Hitomi searches out the nipple and starts to suck, hoping for nourishment but finding none.
Hitomi starts to hum as she looks down at the child on her breast. She smiles and sings, "Nee koi shite mo dare ni mo itsuka… owari ga kuru no? Nee aozora yori mo sunda… tokimeki suttee shimau no? Kisetsu kawaru no kaze… michi o hashiru zutto… Kimi o kimi o aishiteru. Kokoro de mitsumete iru. Kimi o kimi o shinjiteru… samui yoru mo."
"Hitomi!" calls Van knocking hard on the doorframe, "The milk is ready!"
"Close your eyes, Van, and come on in," says Hitomi turning slightly to look at him.
Van walks slowly in with his eyes clamped shut.
"I'm going to give Hitomi to you. You can start feeding her while I get dressed," says Hitomi standing.
Van blushes. "Should I sit down?"
"Yes."
Van makes his way blindly to the bed and sits down.
Hitomi places the baby in Van's arms and frees her nipple from Baby Hitomi's mouth. She helps Van put the nipple of the bottle in the hungry mouth. Then she turns her back to him.
"Hitomi?"
"Yes, Van?" replies Hitomi.
"Can I look at you?" asks Van.
"I'm not fully dressed yet," says Hitomi blushing.
"Um… that's what I meant… uh… why I asked," says Van getting really embarrassed.
Hitomi neglects her act of getting dressed and sits down beside Van. "You already saw me half naked… when you saved my life in the Duchy of Freid."
"I really didn't see anything then! I was too busy trying to get your heart to beat!" exclaims Van.
"I suppose it would be all right for you to see a little more," whispers Hitomi into Van's ear, "You can open your eyes."
Van smiles. "You're beautiful, Hitomi."
"How do you know? You haven't opened your eyes yet!"
"You're very beautiful with your clothes on." Van opens his eyes and looks upon Hitomi's bared flesh. He leans over and kisses her gently. Then he adds, "You could only look more beautiful without them, Hitomi."
Hitomi smiles and blushes. She takes off her shirt and her bra.
"I want you to stay with me forever, Hitomi. I want you by my side," says Van looking straight into Hitomi's eyes.
Hitomi gazes into Van's brown eyes. "I will, Van."
"Maybe you should get dressed now. Once Hitomi's fed, we can get some food," says Van.
Hitomi stands up. She puts her bra on correctly, unlike the partial hanging it had been when Baby Hitomi was at her breast. Then she pulls her shirt on and buttons it up.
Van tilts the bottle a little more for Baby Hitomi and stares intently at Hitomi as she dresses. He watches her every movement, every muscle tensing and relaxing as she works.
Hitomi puts her jacket on. Then she sits beside Van. "I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to breast-feed. I think she bruised me!"
Van chuckles. "I'll never ask you to."
Baby Hitomi pulls away from the bottle and starts crying.
Hitomi lifts the child to her shoulder and burps her.
Baby Hitomi stops crying.
"She's ready to sleep now," says Hitomi.
Van stands up and helps Hitomi to her feet. He smiles at her, and he caresses her light brown hair. "You are beautiful, Hitomi!"
"Thank you, Van," says Hitomi. She leads Van down the stairs and into the living room. She places Baby Hitomi into the bassinette.
Allen walks in from the kitchen. "She's finally settled down?"
Hitomi nods.
"We should eat and get some rest," says Van.
"Yes! Of course," says Allen heading back into the kitchen.
Van and Hitomi follow Allen.
Allen gets out some bread and cheese. He sets it on the table beside a bowl of fruit. "I'm afraid we don't have any meat around. We normally go out to the market place and get that daily… Millerna normally goes out to the market place daily. She likes to gossip a little with the other women. It's odd that this disease isn't affecting the animals. Maybe they will all be safe from it."
"This will be fine," says Hitomi pulling a knife from a block on the counter, "We can make cheese sandwiches…" She suddenly remembers the box lunch her mother packed for her. She adds quickly, "Van, would you go get my bag?"
"Sure." Van heads into the living room and lifts Hitomi's bag. He brings it into the kitchen. "What did you want your bag for?"
Hitomi sets the knife down beside the slices of bread she just cut. She digs in her bag and pulls out the box lunch. She opens the box and smiles. "My Mom made me lunch before I came here… She's not expecting me to return."
"What is that stuff in there?" asks Allen.
Hitomi pulls out a canned ham with an easy to open pop-top lid. "This is sandwich meat!"
"You certainly have odd food on the Mystic Moon," says Van lifting a small package of beef jerky, "What's this?"
"That's dried meat," says Hitomi, "Mom wasn't sure when I'd be able to eat so she only packed food that would last. This stuff never goes bad!" She opens the can of ham and uses the plastic fork from her lunch box to pull it out onto a plate. She slices it neatly.
"So… what do we do with this sandwich meat?" asks Allen looking at the empty can at the odd Atlantean writing upon the paper wrapping around the can.
Hitomi makes up three ham and cheese sandwiches. "Ready to eat!"
Van lifts a sandwich and takes a bite of it. "Not bad!"
Hitomi and Allen lift their sandwiches and start to eat.
They all sit down around the table. They eat the entire can of ham, all the cheese, and most of the bread. They also go through a full bottle of finely aged Asturian wine.
After dinner, Hitomi lies down on a soft sofa in the living room, so she can be near Baby Hitomi and the kitchen. She quickly falls asleep.
Van and Allen retire upstairs for the night.
~ ~ ~
It's so hot. Why is the wind so hot?
Hitomi opens her eyes and looks out upon a fiery crash scene.
~ ~ ~
Hitomi wakes up with a start. She gets up and moves to Baby Hitomi. She lifts the child and takes her into the kitchen. "There's going to be a lot of trouble on Gaia, Hitomi Marlene… a lot of trouble."
* * *
Hitomi carries Baby Hitomi into Millerna's hospital room.
Allen walks in followed by Van carrying Hitomi's duffle bag and the bag of diapers and toys for the baby.
"You shouldn't have come here," says Millerna weakly, "I'll be dead by nightfall."
"Maybe, but we want to take you with us!" exclaims Allen.
"I'm sorry, Allen. I can't go with you!" exclaims Millerna.
"We don't want to leave you here as long as you're alive," says Van.
"You have to!" exclaims Millerna.
"Millerna," says Hitomi.
"Hitomi! Please reason with them! I don't want you to see me die!" cries Millerna.
The doctor runs into the room. "Fire! A fire started in the temple! It's already spreading to half the city! Fires are just… appearing! The city is burning! We must be under attack by some invisible enemy! That's the only explanation for how the fire is spreading so quickly!"
"How could we not have noticed?" asks Allen.
"It apparently just started along with a fierce wind!" exclaims the doctor, "No one say how it started! But it started in more than one place! And the smoke is unlike any smoke I've seen before! It has no color! No substance! Many of our people have already escaped to the forests! Only a few people are left to help me with the ill. You must go! Reeden is waiting for you at the Crusade!"
"No choice, Millerna! You're coming with us!" exclaims Van as Allen lifts her from the bed. He leads the way out of the room.
Hitomi races after Van with the baby in her arms.
Allen carries the protesting Millerna and runs after them.
"No!!" Millerna screams, "Leave me to die! I don't want all of you to get sick too!"
Everyone rushes to the Crusade down the empty streets. Surprisingly enough, they don't see a single person running away from the flames.
"Take off!" exclaims Van running onto the command deck.
Allen runs up carrying Millerna. "Let's go!"
Hitomi hurries to sit down in a secure, out of the way location. She cuddles up with Baby Hitomi.
"Aye, aye, captain!" exclaims Reeden standing at the helm. His red bandanna covers his light brown hair. Since Gaddes's death, he is the new second in command of the Crusade. He glances over to where Hitomi sits cuddling Baby Hitomi. "Hey the little lady from the Mystic Moon is back!"
Piru looks through a periscope hiding his enormous red nose. Teo, the dark skinned Crusade crewmember, and Ort, the bald headed and scarred member, stand looking over gages in the ship's cockpit. Kio stands in front of a few gages and switches, preparing to lower the sails when the command is given. He is by far the tallest and broadest member of the crew.
"Weigh anchor!" exclaims Reeden.
Katz, with his short light brown hair and dark brown vest, turns the dual cranks to raise the anchors.
"Van! Watch over Millerna!" exclaims Allen.
Van drops the two bags close to Hitomi. He takes Millerna from Allen, and he sits down beside Hitomi with her.
"Heat the levi-stones!" calls Allen.
Hitomi looks out at Fanelia as the ship rises into the air. She watches the flames flickering as they engulf more buildings around the temple. She can now pick out other fires randomly starting in other parts of the city, spreading rapidly due to the fierce wind that mysteriously appeared with the first fire.
People run off into the forests to get away from the fire.
"I hope everyone got away," whispers Hitomi.
"So do I," whispers Van, "My people are resilient. They can take care of themselves. If only we'd had more of a warning… we could have gotten them all to safety."
"Unfurl the sails!" exclaims Allen.
Kio pulls the lever to unfurl the sails.
"Where are we going?" asks Millerna.
"The Duchy of Freid," whispers Van.
"How do you think the fire started, Van?" asks Allen.
"The only thing I can think of…" Van shakes his head as if his idea were pure ludicrous.
"What is it, Van?" asks Allen sitting down in front of him.
"Van, what do you think?" asks Millerna.
"Van?" Hitomi sets her hand on his shoulder.
Van looks at Millerna's dry, cracking skin. "It feels like our world has turned against us. Like Gaia is trying intentionally to kill us!"
"That can't be true!" says Reeden as he mans the helm of the Crusade and holds the wheel steady.
"So you've felt it too, Van," says Allen nodding his head.
"Allen?" asks Millerna.
"I too feel like Gaia is trying to kill us," says Allen, "and I agree that this disease and the fire may have been deliberate attempts at us by the planet itself."
"I don't think it's just us… she's attacking the whole populace of Gaia," says Millerna.
Baby Hitomi starts to cry in Hitomi's arms.
"I need to change her," says Hitomi standing. She grabs the baby's bag and heads to find a place to tend to the child.
The first part of my vision has come true! Fanelia is burning! And the disease that little girl had! It's destroying everyone I care about! This can't be the future of Gaia… It can't be.
Hitomi returns to the command deck as the Crusade makes its descent into Freid.
"What took so long, Hitomi?" asks Millerna.
"I had to feed her too," says Hitomi, "She's ready to sleep now." She cradles Baby Hitomi in her arms and looks out at Freid, still mostly wreckage. "This is Freid? How could Fanelia be rebuilt, and Freid remain like this?"
"Like what?" asks Millerna trying to stand.
Van helps Millerna to her feet, and everyone stares at the destruction.
"This is recent!" exclaims Allen.
"Army?" asks Van.
"This doesn't look like what an army would do!" exclaims Allen, "It looks like an earthquake!"
The Crusade lands outside the crumbled walls.
"Men, stay here and protect Princess Millerna and Hitomi!" orders Allen, "Van and I will go see if anyone survived!"
"I'm going with you!" states Hitomi firmly.
"It's too dangerous to take Baby Hitomi in there," says Van.
"Baby Hitomi is asleep. She'll be safe and sound here, sleeping. I'm going with you!" says Hitomi.
"Me too," says Millerna, "My nephew may be in there, and I'm already dying. This isn't dangerous for me!"
"Millerna!" Allen tries to think up some argument as Hitomi places the baby in his arms.
Hitomi removes her uniform's jacket and makes it into a small padded bed on the floor. She takes Baby Hitomi back and places her on the jacket. "Now let's go! Hitomi will be fine here, and she'll be out of the way of the crew as they prepare us for take off again."
Millerna leans on Hitomi as they head out of the Crusade before Van and Allen.
"Let's go, Allen!" exclaims Van. He follows the two women.
"Protect Baby Hitomi!" orders Allen before leaving.
The four friends make their way through the rubble slowly.
"Prince Chid!" calls Hitomi.
"Prince Chid! If you live please respond!" calls Allen, "Allen Shezar, Princess Millerna, King Van Fanel, and the Lady Hitomi have come!"
"Hitomi! Do you think if he's here you could find him by dowsing?" asks Van quickly.
"Oh, I don't know. I…." exclaims Hitomi.
"Please try," says Millerna leaning on Hitomi.
"I'll try!"
Hitomi sees the pendant that still hangs around Van's neck and silently points to it, making a plea for him to try dowsing as well. Van nods as he pulls off the necklace and dangles it in front of him. In Hitomi's mind and in Van's hand, the pendant swings towards a pile of large rocks.
"There!" exclaim Van and Hitomi both pointing to the same pile of rocks.
Van places the necklace back around his neck as Allen runs towards the pile of rocks. He hurries over to help him.
Van and Allen move the rocks one at a time. Then they see a body and quicken their pace of removing rocks. They pull the body of a large man from the rubble.
"Prince Chid!" exclaims Van seeing the boy still amidst the rubble.
Van sets the man down as Allen pulls Prince Chid from amidst the pile of rocks and rubble.
"Allen?" ask Prince Chid looking at him with pure blue eyes.
"Prince Chid? What happened here?" asks Allen.
"An earthquake. Everyone's dead," says Prince Chid sadly, "He tried to save me." He points at his guard who had shielded him with his own body.
Hitomi and Millerna come closer.
"Chid," says Millerna, "Are you hurt?" She kneels before her young nephew.
Hitomi walks over and checks the guard for a pulse. "He must have died in the earthquake."
"Aunt Millerna? You have the disease!" exclaims Prince Chid. His pale blond hair looks almost gray from the rock dust that is now mud on his head. His skin is cracked and dry looking.
"As do you, Chid," says Millerna pulling him into her embrace.
Patches of skin start to fall down upon the skeleton on Prince Chid's body.
"It's getting close to your time," says Millerna as some of her own skin falls down upon the bones of her arm, "and mine as well. Hitomi, please take my daughter to the Mystic Moon where she will be safe!"
"I will try, Millerna!" exclaims Hitomi.
Millerna holds Prince Chid close to her as their skin slowly caves in to show their bones.
Allen kneels beside Millerna and Prince Chid. He pulls them both into his arms.
Millerna's skin falls from her bones, revealing her skeleton completely.
"Aunt Millerna!" exclaims Prince Chid crying. His skin caves in completely and washes away with his tears as they slowly slide down his face.
The two skeletons remain intact in Allen's arms for a moment before they fall into dust.
"It's time to go," says Allen walking back towards the Crusade.
Hitomi takes Van's hand and lets him lead her forward. She whispers, "I'm worried about Allen."
"So am I," whispers Van, "He just lost everything he cares about… everything except the child he raises as his daughter."
"His sister… his wife… his son," whispers Hitomi.
"Son?" Van raises his eyebrows.
"Allen and Marlene had been in love," whispers Hitomi.
Van looks puzzled, "How did you know and not me?"
"Allen doesn't tell you everything, Van. He told me when he asked me to marry him."
Van shrugs and pulls Hitomi close to him. He wraps his arm around her. They follow Allen into the Crusade.
"Allen? Are you alright?" asks Hitomi.
Allen looks back at Hitomi and Van. "You may be the luckiest man alive, Van. Where do we head now?"
"We should try to find Dryden!" exclaims Hitomi. She moves over and lifts Baby Hitomi into her arms.
"Will you be leaving, Hitomi? Aren't you planning your return to the Mystic Moon with Baby Hitomi?" asks Allen, "You told Millerna you would take our child to safety."
"Van?" asks Hitomi looking at him with pleading eyes.
"I'll go with you, Hitomi," says Van smiling.
Hitomi smiles.
"All right, men! Let's go!" exclaims Allen.
"Is the little lady leaving us?" asks Reeden as the crewmembers start their work to get the Crusade airborne again.
"As soon as we can send her home," says Allen.
"Well, I'll certainly miss you, little lady," says Reeden winking at Hitomi. He scratches his red bandanna over his head.
"Allen… I didn't want to tell Millerna this, but if the planet is really attacking the people here, I may not be able to return to the Mystic Moon," says Hitomi sitting down with the baby in her arms, "But I'll try to go home!"
Allen turns his back to Hitomi as the Crusade lifts itself into the air. "I'm glad you didn't tell her. Thank you, Hitomi."
"I'm sure I could make it work! Wishes have power here on Gaia!" exclaims Hitomi, "I just needed to tell you my concern. If I believe enough, I know I can take Van and Baby Hitomi back to the Mystic Moon with me." She opens her bag and stuffs her jacket into it, and then she zips the bag closed.
"I'll believe with you," says Van, "Together, our wish will come true!"
"Captain! The levi-stones are failing! We're falling!" exclaims Reeden spinning the wheel furiously, "And the rudder isn't responding!"
"We must evacuate!" exclaims Allen, "Quickly! To Sherezard!"
Hitomi holds the baby carefully as she runs back towards the hangar where Allen's Guymelef awaits.
Van hurries after Hitomi with the two bags.
Allen runs into the hangar. He climbs up into Sherezard's cockpit. "Van! Protect Hitomi!"
"You don't need to tell me twice!" exclaims Van pulling off his shirt. He stuffs it into the baby's bag as white wings emerge from his back.
"Get the little lady out of here!" exclaims Reeden as all the crewmembers run into the hangar.
Piru rubs his bright red nose and pulls the lever to open the hangar doors, and the doors start to open up.
Van secures the two bags over his shoulder. He slips the straps over his head so they hang at an angle. He flaps his wings once to check their mobility. "All right, Hitomi! We need to get out of here! Allen! Are you sure you can get everyone out?"
"Yes, Van! Now go!" yells Allen.
Van lifts Hitomi into his arms and cradles her against his chest. "Hold Baby Hitomi tightly."
"I will, Van," says Hitomi clutching the child gently but securely.
Van walks quickly towards the opened doors and jumps out with Hitomi and the child.
The rafters fall down effectively separating Allen and his crew.
"Captain! It's our time to die! Leave without us!" exclaims the tall Kio, "You and Van were right! It's Gaia! She's trying to kill us!"
"I'm not leaving without you!" screams Allen.
"You must find a way for Hitomi to take your daughter home!" yells Reeden, "Now go, captain! Go!"
"Leave us!" yell the crewmembers as if with one voice, "Hurry!"
"I'm sorry," says Allen before he leaves the Crusade.
The Crusade crashes into the ground in a fiery explosion.
Allen, in his guymelef Sherezard, falls down and lands near the wreckage.
Van lands with his precious cargo. "Allen!"
"They insisted on dying with the Crusade," says Allen sadly.
I had a dream about this!
"There was nothing you could have done, Allen. When the ceiling collapsed, there was no way you could have gotten to them," says Hitomi.
"You saw it?" asks Allen.
"I did… We should look for them. Maybe they survived!" exclaims Hitomi hopefully.
Allen emerges from the cockpit and jumps down to the ground. "Van and I will search for them."
Van sets Hitomi down on a fallen tree log. "Stay here, Hitomi."
Hitomi nods quickly.
Allen and Van head into the burning wreckage to look for any signs that one of their friends survived. After a long, strenuous search, they return to find Hitomi rocking the crying baby.
"She's hungry! I left the bottle in the bag," says Hitomi.
"Sorry, Hitomi. I didn't even realize I'd walked off with the baby's food," says Van quickly finding the bottle and passing it to Hitomi.
"It's a bit cool, but I don't think she'll mind this once," says Hitomi as Baby Hitomi reaches for the bottle, "Since we didn't keep it chilled, it should be warm enough it won't make her sick."
Baby Hitomi finds the nipple and starts to suck on it hungrily.
"We should move out soon," says Allen as Hitomi pulls the bottle away and burps the baby, "Van, you and Hitomi will ride on Sherezard's shoulders. We can travel further that way."
"All right!" exclaims Van with the brisk nod of his head.
Allen climbs up into the cockpit.
Van lifts Hitomi and flies her and the baby up onto the large shoulder of the guymelef. Then he allows his feathers to molt away. Once wingless, he pulls his red shirt from the bag and puts it on. He wraps his arms around Hitomi and the baby. "We're all set, Allen!"
Sherezard starts moving away from the wreckage.
Hitomi looks up at the Mystic Moon. "The Mystic Moon looks dark."
Van turns his gaze skyward. "So it does… like it's masked in a shadow. What could it mean?"
"Whatever it means, I don't think it's good!" exclaims Hitomi, "Not with so many dead already!"
"Dryden has the drag-energist I got from that dragon I killed… and the Escaflowne," says Van, "I'll revive the Escaflowne and take you home!"
"Oh, Van," whispers Hitomi leaning against him. "All we're doing is running and watching our friends die. Isn't there anything else we could do?"
"Go to the Mystic Moon," says Van quietly.
Hitomi nods.
They travel all day and well into the night before they stop to rest.
Allen climbs from the cockpit of Sherezard and sits down beside Hitomi.
Van starts a fire.
"Hitomi, you returned to your home once before," says Allen looking into her green eyes, "Could you do it again?"
"It might have been my necklace that took me home. It looks like an energist… maybe it is a piece of one!" exclaims Hitomi, "So it should have the power to send us all to the Mystic Moon!"
Van quickly pulls the necklace off and passes it to Hitomi. "How do we work it?"
As soon as the stone touches Hitomi's hand, she starts to see a vision.
~ ~ ~
Hitomi's grandmother, young and beautiful, stands alone in a forest clearing. She wears a kimono and holds a pinwheel in her hand. "Hitomi, you mustn't take them to Earth. You don't understand what is happening. Gaia is saving her people. They have to remain here. Only you can return. There is more to this disease than just what you have seen!"
"Have you come to tell me that Gaia really is attacking her people?" asks Hitomi.
"Yes and no. She is doing what she can to help them. Believe in Gaia, Hitomi!"
"Grandmother!" exclaims Hitomi.
~ ~ ~
"Hitomi! Are you all right?" asks Van shaking her gently.
Hitomi gasps. "I think I just had a vision!"
"What happened?" exclaim Allen and Van at once.
"My grandmother told me to believe in Gaia," says Hitomi.
"Believe in Gaia? As she's trying to kill us all?" asks Allen.
"I don't understand either!" exclaims Hitomi as the baby starts to cry, "But we must try to go to the Mystic Moon!" She raises the necklace towards the sky and wishes with all her heart. "Send us all to Earth!"
"Let's wish with her, Allen!" exclaims Van.
"Send us all to Earth!" everyone shouts.
The pink light that had brought Hitomi to Gaia appears around the three friends and the baby girl. The cylindrical shaft of light shoots up towards the Mystic Moon.
Hitomi starts to rise up into the air with the baby, but Allen and Van stay firmly on the ground.
"Hitomi!" exclaims Van.
Baby Hitomi is pulled from Hitomi's arms by a set of invisible arms and lowered back down to Allen.
"Hitomi!" shouts Allen.
"Van! Allen!" screams Hitomi, "No! I don't want to leave!"
The pink light quickly dissipates and Hitomi falls.
Van catches her easily. "Hitomi!"
"Hitomi breathes deeply of Van's scent as she wraps her arms around his neck. She quivers in his arms and continues to draw in long breaths of the meadow-like fragrance. "I was so scared, Van!"
"I would never let you fall," says Van holding her close and rubbing her comfortingly.
"That wasn't why I was scared," whispers Hitomi.
"Oh… I see," whispers Van, "I won't let you leave without me, Hitomi."
Hitomi buries her face in Van's neck and tries to calm her shaking by breathing deeply of the familiar meadow-like scent that emanates from Van.
"Are you all right now, Hitomi?" asks Allen as he cradles Baby Hitomi.
Hitomi nods.
Van slowly sets Hitomi down on the ground.
"That idea apparently won't work," says Allen.
"No. The Gaians must remain on Gaia," says Hitomi sadly, "So I will remain on Gaia." She places the necklace back around Van's neck.
"There may be no way to save Baby Hitomi," says Allen, "But we won't stop trying!"
"We're out of milk," says Hitomi taking Baby Hitomi from Allen and sitting down by the fire, "She'll be hungry soon, and we've nothing to feed her."
Allen sits down wearily and wipes his brow.
"Allen… stay with Hitomi. I'll go search for some food for Baby Hitomi," says Van, "I think there's a village nearby. We could get some milk there."
"Hurry back, Van," says Allen.
Hitomi looks at Van. "Be careful."
Van leans down and kisses Hitomi's lips quickly. "Anything you say, Hitomi!"
Hitomi smiles.
Van turns and heads off into the night.
"Hitomi…"
"What is it, Allen?"
Allen falls to the ground in between Hitomi and the fire.
"Allen!" exclaims Hitomi seeing the beads of sweat upon his forehead. She kneels beside him and feels his forehead. "Oh, no! You…!"
"Have the fever," interrupts Allen, "I know, Hitomi. I'm ready to die. I just want to get you and the baby safe first."
"We're safe right now. Rest, Allen," says Hitomi pulling his long blond hair away from his face, "Get some sleep."
"You are so strong, Hitomi." Allen closes his eyes and relaxes.
Hitomi sits back and cradles Baby Hitomi.
I feel so weak. I feel so helpless. I feel like there is nothing I can do, but I will watch over you.
Hitomi sits quietly as Allen and Baby Hitomi sleep. She smiles as Van returns to their camp leading an animal that looks quite similar to an ox.
"Has she woken?" asks Van while tethering the animal to a tree.
"Thankfully no," says Hitomi, "but I'm a little worried about her."
"We should wake her so she can eat," says Van. He digs a bottle out of the bag. Then he takes it to the animal and starts milking it.
"Where did you find an ox?" asks Hitomi.
"The village. It's been deserted. This… did you call it an ox?… was alone in the field," says Van.
"Hitomi Marlene," says Hitomi quietly, "Wake up."
Two little blue eyes open and stare up at Hitomi. She starts to cry.
Van passes the bottle to Hitomi. "It should be warm enough for her."
Hitomi feeds the baby while Van finishes milking the ox and putting the milk in bottles. "Allen has the fever."
"What?" asks Van loudly.
"Shhhh…"
"Sorry."
"Allen has the fever," repeats Hitomi.
Van clenches his fists. "This isn't fair. No one should die this way!"
"I know, Van. I hate it too!" Hitomi burps Baby Hitomi and starts to change her diaper.
"I'm being so selfish. I'm so sorry, Hitomi," says Van.
"You aren't being selfish," says Hitomi shaking her head profusely.
"Yes… I am. I'm only thinking of myself and how much I don't want you to be hurt. I want you to stay with me forever," says Van, "It's selfish of me to be thinking only of myself and the happiness we could share. I shouldn't be thinking of these things now. We're in a war against a planet!"
"Van… hold me," orders Hitomi.
Van moves up to Hitomi as she lays the baby down to sleep. He slowly wraps his arms around her.
Hitomi slides deeper into Van's arms and rests her head against his shoulder. "I've been thinking of our future too. You aren't being selfish… you're being human."
"We'd better get some sleep while we can," says Van pulling Hitomi down into a lying position beside him. "You can use me as a pillow."
Hitomi giggles. "Are you sure?"
"Lie close to me," whispers Van.
Hitomi slides as close to Van as she can and presses her body against his. "Good night, Van."
"Good night, Hitomi," says Van kissing her forehead.
Hitomi rests her head on Van's shoulder and breathes in deeply. She welcomes sleep as much as she welcomes Van's arms upon her body.
* * *
Hitomi warms a bottle of milk and feeds Baby Hitomi.
Van tries to wake up Allen.
Allen rolls over in his sleep. His face is flushed, and beads of sweat roll from his forehead.
"I think his fever may be getting worse," says Van feeling Allen's forehead, "He won't be able to pilot Sherezard!"
"And he wouldn't be able to hang on if you were piloting Sherezard," says Hitomi, "So what do we do, Van?"
"We could stay here until his fever breaks, but that wastes a lot of valuable time!" exclaims Van, "We could leave him here, but I refuse to do that! If he's going to die, he'll die with his friends!"
"Can you wake him up?" asks Hitomi.
Van shakes Allen roughly.
Allen groans in his sleep. "Pay attention, everyone!"
"No, Hitomi. He's asleep for awhile," says Van.
"So what do we do?" asks Hitomi. "I guess we could leave Sherezard here. We could make a travois and drag him away."
"We'll make the travois. The ox can drag it. I'll pilot Sherezard, and you can ride the ox with Baby Hitomi," says Van, "How does that sound?"
"I know it will work!" exclaims Hitomi nodding her head and smiling.
"I'll be back with some wood and rope if I can find it," says Van. He looks at Hitomi longingly before running off.
Hitomi feels the baby's forehead and breathes a sigh of relief that her temperature is still normal.
When Van returns, he drags along a slightly broken down wagon. "I found this wagon in the village. The entire town was deserted. I think they all must have run away from the disease…or died from it."
"We can put Allen in the wagon," says Hitomi.
Van nods.
Allen rolls over and opens his eyes. "Van… Hitomi…"
"Allen! You're awake!" exclaims Van moving quickly to his side, "Don't try to move! You're sick!"
"Why didn't you leave me?" asks Allen, "You could go so much farther without me dragging you down."
"I'm not going to let you die alone, Allen!" exclaims Van, "You'll be with your friends when you die."
"Allen, we're going to take you with us. We found a wagon and an ox," says Hitomi, "Van will pilot Sherezard."
"No, Van. Stay at Hitomi's side. Protect her," says Allen, "Leave Sherezard. It's served me well."
"All right. We'll all go in the wagon," says Van, "I'll get it hitched up." He moves quickly to get the wagon ready.
"What were you dreaming, Allen?" asks Hitomi sitting beside him with Baby Hitomi Marlene in her arms. She caresses his face gently.
"A wonderful dream. I was reunited with Millerna," says Allen, "and you were there, Hitomi! You looked very happy…"
"I'm sure I was," says Hitomi. "Getting to see Millerna again." She smiles.
* * *
Allen, Hitomi, and Baby Hitomi ride in the back of the wagon as Van sits up front with a set of rope reins in his hands.
The wagon pulls into a large seaside city.
"Hey!" exclaims Van calling out to a man on the street, "Do you know if a merchant named Dryden has been here recently?"
"Are you the King of Fanelia?" asks the man.
"I am. Van Fanel, King of Fanelia," answers Van.
"Dryden is dead, but he's left the Escaflowne here for you, Lord Van," says the man.
"How did he die?" asks Hitomi.
"The disease killed him," says the man.
"Just like it is me," whispers Allen.
"Don't talk, Allen," says Hitomi.
"Where is the Escaflowne?" asks Van quickly.
"At the docks… on a ship called the Esperanza," says the man.
Van nods. He flips the reins onto the back of the ox.
The ox moves forward towards the docks.
"Another friend gone," says Hitomi sadly.
Baby Hitomi starts to cry in Hitomi's arms.
Hitomi feels the baby's forehead. "Van! She's really hot! I think she may have the fever!"
"No… she can't," whispers Allen.
Van turns around. He feels the baby's forehead. "I'm sorry, Allen. It's true."
"Hitomi, can I hold her?" asks Allen quietly.
Van turns his attention back to the road ahead of them.
Hitomi places Baby Hitomi gently into Allen's arms.
"Would you sing to us, Hitomi?" whispers Allen. His dry, cracked skin starts to collapse onto his skeleton.
"Of course I will," says Hitomi. She looks at the child and sees the disease rapidly accelerating within her.
Before Hitomi's eyes, Baby Hitomi's skin starts to crack and dry up.
"Nee aishitara daremo ga konna kodoku ni naru no?" sings Hitomi, "Nee kurayami yori…"
"No… please, Hitomi," interrupts Allen, "Sing so I can understand your words."
Hitomi nods. She sings, "Say, when they in love, does everyone get this lonely? Say, do they embrace the pain that's even deeper than the darkness?"
Allen smiles at Hitomi.
"It's all been so that we can shine, I just know it!" sings Hitomi touching Allen's cheek. "I love you. I love you. I'm gazing at you with my heart. I believe in you. I believe in you… even on the coldest night."
The wagon stops on the docks near the Esperanza.
Van turns towards the three people in the back.
Hitomi hums and watches as Allen and Baby Hitomi fall to pieces.
Van sets his hand on Hitomi's shoulder as he also sees the father and daughter dying.
"Say, even if they're in love, could the end someday come for them too? Say, could a feeling that's even clearer than the blue sky end up being abandoned?" sings Hitomi, "The season-changing winds running along the streets forever."
"Thank you, Hitomi," whispers Allen, "Good-bye, Van… Hitomi…"
"I love you. I love you. I'm gazing at you with my heart. I believe in you. I believe in you… even on the coldest night," sings Hitomi.
Van and Hitomi watch as Baby Hitomi turns into a skeleton before them.
"She must be more susceptible being a baby," says Allen quietly.
"Even if I lost tomorrow, and even if I lost you, too, I want to shine, smiling as best as I can," sings Hitomi. Her eyes fill with tears, which quickly run down her cheeks, but she continues to sing, "I call out to you now with my tears. I don't need promises or such things, because of the precious strength that you've given me."
The skin falls from Allen's bones.
"I call out to you now with my eyes. I don't need promises or such things. I reach out to you now with my eyes even on the coldest night," sings Hitomi. She bursts into tears.
Van pulls Hitomi into his arms as the two skeletons fall into ash. "I know, Hitomi. Cry all you want."
"Oh, Van!" exclaims Hitomi sobbing into his shoulder. After several minutes, she pulls herself away and wipes her eyes. "I'm alright. I hope."
"Let's go get Escaflowne," says Van.
Hitomi nods and allows Van to pull her forward into the ship.
Van runs up to the Hyspano guymelef as soon as he sees it. "Escaflowne!"
"Van… where will we go now?" asks Hitomi.
Van finds the energist. He turns towards Hitomi. "I hadn't thought about that."
"With Gaia attacking everyone, we might not have that long together," says Hitomi, "So let's just make the most of the time we have together!"
Van pulls Hitomi into his arms and gives her a passionate kiss. "A wonderful idea!"
"Let's go, Van!"
Van puts the energist into the Escaflowne and watches it power-up.
Hitomi climbs up onto the shoulder as Van climbs up to the cockpit.
Van guides the Escaflowne out of the Esperanza and away from the city by the sea.