Chapter Twelve: Premonitions

Crusade Repair Deck

As Hitomi laid asleep in bed Allen and Van were repairing their guymelefs that were damaged during they fight with the black guymelef. "He called him self Shin. The weapon he used was unfamiliar to me. Who knows whet else he has up his sleeve" Allen said looking at his guymelef.

Van had started the repairs on Escaflowne while Allen was talking to him. "We might ask Hitomi of the weapons from her world? That may prepare us for what's to come from this Shin" Van said filing down his sword. Allen sighed as he walked closer to Van.

"It seems that Shin has sources that we haven't consider. For example who gave him weapons? Where did they find the weapons? There has to be someone pulling the strings, but who? Who would want another war?" Allen asked sitting down on the stairs.

"The only people I can think of are the dopplegä ngers. There past is full of war and hatred. I can think of no one else but them" Van said looking at Allen. "Do you suppose Hitomi can tell us. She can read her cards, but I couldn't force her to do that. Not after what happened last time. Speaking of Hitomi, I wish to see how she is doing" Van said suddenly as he left Allen to ponder about the enemy.

Hitomi's Chambers

The rain was coming down as Hitomi tossed and turned in her sleep. She was having a dream of her and Van. She was walking with Van up to the cliffs that hung over Fenalia.

"Oh Van look isn't the sunset beautiful?" Hitomi asked walking up to the edge of the cliff. Van walked up beside her and put his arm around her shoulder and smiled at her. Hitomi leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. "This is how it should be."

Suddenly the ground began to shake and Hitomi hung onto Van. The cliff was started to crumble from below them and Hitomi had fallen away from Van. The cliff collapsed bellow her and she was falling with rocks falling all around her. "Van" Hitomi yelled.

Hitomi felt it suddenly, she wasn't falling anymore. Someone had caught her before she could hit the ground. "Van" Hitomi said with delight as she turned to look at him. It wasn't Van, it was that man. She recognized those eyes so full of hate looking at her. "No! Let me go! Let me go!" Hitomi said as she was suddenly awoken by a gentle shake.

Hitomi opened her eye to see Van looking at her with concern. Hitomi looked around the room making sure of where she was. Hitomi sighed as she realized she was safe on the Crusade with her friends. "Are you alright Hitomi? Did you have another vision?" Van asked pouring her a glass of water.

"Yes I'm fine thanks, and about the dream... It had that man in it. His eyes were so full of hate as they looked at me… So cold and lifeless. I wonder who he is?" Hitomi asked looking at Van as he handed her the glass of water. Hitomi took the glass of water and took a sip of it as Van was sitting down next to her.

"His name is Shin and he brought in some weapons from your world" Van said looking at Hitomi with intense eyes. Hitomi sighed as she leaned against Van slowly. All she wanted was to be close to him like this. She wanted none of the rest of the situation, just the closeness. Van put his arm around Hitomi.

"I wish everything were like this. So simple and relaxing. I just want to be near you Van. I feel so safe when I'm close to you, like nothing could ever hurt me" Hitomi said gentle closing her eyes.

"That's because I would ever let anything bad happen to you as long as I can help it. I always want to be with you Hitomi. Life isn't the same without you in it… Life is so hard and complicated but when your here it seems worth it" Van said brushing the hair from Hitomi's face.

When Van hand touched her face she opened her eyes to see him looking at her with loving eyes. His hands were so warm and comforting against her skin. Van and Hitomi stared at each other for a few seconds then he leaned closer and kissed her softly on the lips. Hitomi's hand came up to touch his face when he kissed her. It felt so good to be this close to Van. It felt so natural to kiss him and be in his arms like this.

Van slowly moved away and looked into Hitomi's eyes once again. Hitomi didn't notice the tears that were flowing down her cheeks until Van wiped them away with his thumb and kissed her once again.

"Hitomi there's no need to be afraid. I would never leave you and I will never let anyone hurt you without them having to pay severely for it" Van said softly in her ear as he hugged her.

"Van you must learn to control your anger. If you ever loose control you loose control over yourself. Do you understand Van. Be strong and stay calm that way you'll be able to do your best" Hitomi said suddenly feeling exhausted. It was so warm and comfortable in his arms that she wanted to just fall asleep.

"Hitomi? Would you be angry with me if I asked you for your help?" Van said caressing her back making her feel even more relaxed.

"I will help you in what ever way that I can Van. Just ask and I'll see if I can help even if it's the simplest of things" Hitomi said slow trailing off into and trance like state. He eyes lids were heavy as was her head. She wanted to fall asleep. "I'm so tired Van. I just want to rest here for awhile with you" Hitomi said leaning heavily on Van.

"Sleep then Hitomi. Sleep and I will stay here and watch you slumber peacefully. May your dreams be peaceful" Van said but Hitomi had heard the last few word as a quiet whisper.

Godeshen Castle

Constant scream could be heard throughout Godeshen. Personally Shin didn't mind it at all because it was like music to his ears. He had been working long hours creating and building some weapons with Reed.

Shin was sitting by the river taking a break from building and testing new machinery, but Reed said that they would need to be better prepared for the next invasion since the other countries new of them now.

Shin sighed as he leaned back against a tree and put his feet into the water. He wanted to do something fun and for some reason and Hitomi was the first person that popped into his mind. He'd never even seen her but he was always thinking about her. Was it because she was a threat?

Shin got up and walked back to the castle to talk with Reed. Shin looked around Godeshen it was in pretty rough shape. Building were collapsing the forest around the city were badly burned. Shin didn't really care because that was what happened when you fought a war.

Shin walked into Reed's work shop while he was working on a sketch. Reed looked up at Shin and stopped what he was doing and gave him a questioning look. "Reed? I want to go on a little expedition" Shin said sitting down.

"An expedition? Where? Why?" Reed asked as if he was shocked by his request. Shin sighed as he crossed his arms and rolled his eye. He shouldn't have to explain anything to him.

"The next invasion doesn't start tomorrow. It will be in seven days. That's plenty of time for me to go out and have some fun and be back in plenty of fun."

"You know if you do anything rash you might provoke the other countries to attack us and we would be caught off guard. If anything were to happen to you we'd loose a leader."

"That's not likely and plus you have that new guy. What was his name?" Shin asked looking out of the windows where the screams were coming from.

"His name is Dilandau and he is not yet ready. The sorcerers are still working on changing her back into him"

"You mean Dilandau is originally a her. That's surprising to hear of such a blood thirsty killer… Anyways I'll be back in a day, two tops" Shin said Getting up from his chair and leaving the room.

Reed sighed as he left but he couldn't stop him. He needed to think more of the war at hand, but he was still young and wanted to have fun. Why should Reed deny him what he wants, and he knew he was true to his word.

Crusade Main Deck

"Allen we have some bad news" Kattu said coming up behind Allen who was sitting in the captains seat. Allen look at Kattu who eyes were full of sympathy. "It's about Celina. She's missing and hasn't been found."

Allen bolted from his seat to look intently at Kattu. Allen realized that it wasn't his fault and looked out of the window. "Eries was suppose to be looking after her until the war was over. What has become of Eries? Do they know who took my sister?" Allen asked looking back at Kattu.

"Eries wasn't seriously hurt but the palace was burn to the ground. They assume it was the new enemy that their calling Phantom Slayers."