Disclaimer and Author's Note:You know the drill....I don't own Escaflowne, just the plot and a couple unknow up coming characters that you have no idea about..... any way.. *pouts* No one reviewed for my 3rd chapter o.o, did no one like it? I'm sorry! Please read and review this chap (even though I don't think a lot of people will like this one, eheheh *sweatdrops*) And I forgot to thank....

Sukera, Shuro and Brandy who told me what OOC means thanks you guys ^-^

'Italic'= past things said or memories or just to make a word stand out 'font'= thoughts (font)=author's note and lil things that I just HAVE to say o.o

Chapter 4

They both looked up to the sound of the knock and called back "Hold on." Getting up from the bed Hitomi went around quickly collecting their cloths and threw Dilandou his in his face and giggled before dressing.

The second they both finished Folken opened the door with narrowed eyes at the two.

"Lady Hitomi."

Nodding Hitomi stood up and walked to his side. Dilandou frowned, since Folken had just ruined a moment between him and Hitomi, and stood up as well following them out the door.

"There has been a slight change. We'll be leaving on my floating fortress." Folken said eyeing Hitomi.

She didn't look up to him but she did nod in response. Waiting until he came to her side she gave Dilandou a shy smile then took his hand as they walked down a hall then outside on a deck where they would board. Once inside Folken walked to the control deck telling them to launch. The fortress began to rise off the ground.

Folken signaled Dilandou and Hitomi to follow him as he set down another hall. Stopping at a set of huge doors they opened them and walked in a fairly huge room with more machines.

Hitomi's machine stood in front of them. Giving a sigh she glanced again at her lover who gave her a smile then let go over her hand. She walked up some stairs that lead to a plank ending a little above her seat.

She slowly eased herself down on the machine. Sitting down she slide her legs in the slots. Setting her arms on the rests she put her finger tips in the little holes. Then leaning back she let the two metal clamps wrap around each side of her head.

She looked down at Folken and Dilandou. Then looking back up she closed her eyes. Normally she got visions now and then.

But this machine made it so if she concentrated on what she wanted to see it gave her a vision of it. She tried concentrating on what was going to happen next.

Pictures flashed in her mind dimly. She used all her mind to try make the pictures clearer. They showed up but a bit fuzzy. When she finally mastered them she saw the pictures clear as a bell.

It showed an object flying over Zaibach.

'A dragon? Yes, but.......'

Another picture flashed. It showed the dragon, Escaflowne. On it's back were Allen and Van. They were searching. For her she knew. They flew over Zaibach then began to rise up higher flying towards.......... One more picture flashed someone had fallen, from the floating fortress, Before she could see who it was the pictures disappeared, so she ignored the last one.

"The dragon is coming. With Escaflowne." Hitomi said.

Just then the fortress jerked. Something had crashed into it (duh!). Hitomi sat still as if nothing had happened with her eyes still shut.

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Jumping from Escaflowne's back Van and Allen pulled out their swords and glanced around quickly for any guards that might come.

"Do you have any idea where she may be?" Allen questioned.

"No." Van replied flatly but then remembered something. "But I can find her." he murmured then closed his. Clearing his thoughts of any besides Hitomi he stood still and pictured her in his mind. Soon the pendant appeared before him and started to swing.

Quickly after it stopped then shot in a certain direction.

Snapping open his eyes Van headed straight off that way, with Allen in tow. The pitter patter of other feet were heard as they looked ahead to see guards gathered to block them off.

Tightening the grip on his sword Van stood beside Allen and got ready to attack.

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Noise was heard from outside the door. Then the door burst open to show Allen and Van with knocked out bodies by their feet.

Van glared at Folken and Dilandou then shouted "Where's Hitomi?!" Neither one answered.

Suddenly the machine they were standing by caught his attention as he looked up to see a girl hooked up to it. She had long hair and was dressed in black. He had no idea who she was but something about seemed familiar. Narrowing his eyes to get a better look Van examined her face. She stirred some and opened her eyes a little. Right away he knew those eyes any where.

"Hitomi!!" Van exclaimed.

Rage flowed throughout him seeing Hitomi hooked up to the machine. 'Do they think she is some kind of thing they can experiment on??' Clenching the sword in his hand tightly Van charged at Dilandou. Dilandou quickly unsheathed his sword blocking Van's just in time. Allen came in from behind. Dilandou quickly withdrew to the side dodging Allen's blade.

Hitomi blinked and looked down at the situation. Her vision was blurred for a sec. She saw three figures fighting and one standing to the side. When she could see again she saw what was happening. Allen and Van had arrived and were attacking Dilandou.

She clenched her fists. As the locks around her head bent back she stood up out of her seat and jumped down from the machine.

When she landed to her side Folken called "Lady Hitomi." Turning around she caught the sword she was using earlier. She nodded to Folken and turned back to the fight.

Unsheathing her sword she walked to the fighting three. Glaring at Van she said "Why the hell have you come?!" Van turned around to see Hitomi walking towards him with a sword in her hand.

'Whats she doing?? She doesn't know how to use a sword!' he thought.

But she held it in her hand none the less. Dilandou smirked and went back to fighting with Allen. Hitomi ran at Van with all her force. Van blocked but was having to use all his strength just to stand.

"Hitomi what the hell are you doing?!"

She just glared at him. Then she brought her left leg up and hit the side of Van's head with her silver anklet. There was so much force in it Van was knocked to the ground. He was almost knocked unconscious. Looking up at Hitomi he stared in awe at how different she was. Her use to be short brown hair was now to her waist. She looked older but that was impossible Van thought. She had only been gone for a two days. But it was the dress she was wearing that really hit him hard. He had never seen such a think worn on anyone.

Snapping back to the situation Van saw Hitomi was dead serious about fighting so he figured to fight back but try not to hurt her. Jumping to his feet Van swung his sword over his head down on Hitomi. She quickly brought her arm up and blocked his sword with her wristlet.

"What the?!?!?" Van exclaimed and was thrown back by Hitomi.

'She's so much stronger now! Damn, with those things on her wrists I can't get one blow by. Better think of something fast.' In the corner of his eye he saw Dilandou walking towards them. Guards had appeared and were holding Allen back.

"Ah shit!" Van said aggravated and raced out the door down the hall.

Hitomi ran right after him. Van ran as far as he could till he came to the hanger where Zaibach guymelphs were held. He screeched to a stop when he came to a rail. Looking down he saw they were thousands of feet from the ground. He knew he could fly down but he couldn't leave Allen, Escaflowne and Hitomi here.

Especially after he promised he'd get her back. He heard foot steps and saw Hitomi running at him her blade high.

"Van!" she cried and she brought her sword down.

He dodged just barely and Hitomi's sword hit the railing and got stuck. She pulled at it some but she saw behind her Van about to hit her head with the hilt of his sword. She dodged by ducking down then stuck her leg out and swung it underneath his feet.

Van was knocked back to the ground. She fell down on him and elbowed him hard in his stomach. Van's eyes widened as he rolled to the side and spat some blood from his mouth.

Before she could get back up Van had grabbed her around the neck tightly, but not to choke her, with one arm while the other was around her waist holding her arms. Struggling Hitomi managed to kick at his legs but Van never loosened his grip.

"Hitomi what's happened to you?! Why are you fighting us??" Van questioned.

"Let go!!" she screeched.

"NO! Not until you answer my question!" (Stubborn lil bugger isn't he??? o.o)

She turned her head some looking him straight in the eye. Van stared back but noticed the difference in her eyes. Her eyes were cold with hate for him.

"Hitomi." his voice became softer. "Why are you fighting us?"

"I said let go!" Hitomi yelled. She threw her head back and hit his face. Van winced and loosened his grip. Once out of his grip Hitomi bulleted up glaring at Van.

"I know why you came here Van so don't act to damn innocent!" she shouted at him.

"Hitomi I..."

"Shut up Van! Just shut up! You shouldn't of come! Too you and the others I'm just a weapon! I'm sick and tired of it!"

Van stood hurt from her words but he didn't give up. He walked forward to her but she backed away from him till she bumped the railing. Just before he could speak Dilandou came charging at Van full speed from out of no where.

Ducking Van jumped to the side and got ready. Hitomi watched as they continued their fight.

"Van never cared about me. Only reason he came all this way is for my power...." she whispered to herself as the unshed tears she had started to roll down her cheeks.

'Damn him! He's making me weak!' She growled at herself shaking her head.

The pendant on her neck for only a moment gave off a soft pink glow then faded. Looking at them once more Hitomi yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Besides Van, the Hitomi you're looking for is gone!"

That got Van's attention which gave Dilandou the upper hand as he pushed Van back. He stumbled to make sure he didn't fall but he didn't notice Hitomi behind him as he bumped in to her. Pushing her over the rail.

Then she felt the wind blow against her as she, head first, began to fall from the floating fortress. Van turned just in time to see her fall from the railing. His heart stopped.

"Hitomi!!"

Van pushed Dilandou back as he was about to slice at his stomach then he turned around, and jumped off. Dilandou looked over the edge with wide eyes. "Hitomi......." he whispered.

Hitomi smirked. "So this is what that last vision had meant." she said to herself, remembering the picture of the body falling and let out a weak laugh. As Van fell he saw Hitomi just a few feet below him. Soon he was right in front of her only a few feet away.

"Hitomi give me your hand!" he cried. It was hard to hear with the wind blowing but she still heard him.

"Go away Van!"

He reached out and snatched her arm by the wrist. Pulling her arm back Hitomi yanked her hand but Van held tight.

"Get away from me!" She hissed glaring at him. "Just use your damn wings and fly away!" she screamed at him then kicked him in the stomach.

Once he let go of her wrist Hitomi pushed him away with all her force. Her ring and pendant both resonated and soon wrapped around her in a black light.

Van leaned forward and flew back in front of her but the light around her turned in to some kind of shield. He couldn't get close to her.

"Hitomi stop this now! If you don't come with me you'll die!"

"Then let me die and go away!" Inside she felt her self weakening. 'This boy is so presistant.' She felt her confidence begin to fade as did the shield.

"No one wants to lose you Hitomi! Especially me!" Van's eyes began to soften. "Please Hitomi! Everyone is waiting for you. Don't leave us now Hitomi. Don't leave me alone. What I said to you that time in the mill wasn't true! That's not what I had meant to say!"

Hitomi's eyes widened. 'What is he talking about?' Either way she felt her whole body turn hot. The shield around Hitomi was not almost gone. Van moved closer. Tilting his head up he saw the ground not to very far from impact.

Once the shield was gone Van quickly took Hitomi in his arms and embraced her before the shield could come back up. Her hair whipped around in her face.

"Why?" Hitomi asked. Her voice was shaky and barely above a whisper. He looked down at her.

"Why especially you Van? What did you mean that time?" She was almost scared what he's answer would be.

Smiling lighlty to himself Van thought, 'Thats the Hitomi I know.'

"Because." He figured it was now or never. If he didn't say it now chances are he'd never get to say it again to her.

"I love you Hitomi. Thats what I had meant.....to say."

Before she said anything he leaned in and kissed her. It was a gentle sweet kiss. Right then Van didn't really care about the ground only so many feet away from them. He had said it.

He felt Hitomi's hands on his arms tighten in their grip from shock. This felt warm and right she thought and closed her eyes. As if this is what she had been waiting for her whole life.

Hitomi's pendant began to flicker with light as it's color changed back. It surrounded them both while they were still kissing in a white light. They began to descend back up.

Back on the fortress Dilandou still stood looking over the edge. Behind him Folken and Allen, still held by the guards, walked up to him.

"Where is Lady Hitomi and Van?" Folken asked.

Dilandou turned to them looking as though he'd been slapped hard. "They both jumped." he answered slowly.

Allen's eyes widened in fear. Folken cringed. Suddenly a light from below caught their attention as they turned back to the railing. They all saw Van and Hitomi, still kissing and holding each other, float up past them.

"Wha-whats going on?!" Dilandou exclaimed.

Then he looked down at himself. His whole body was glowing and beginning to lift off the floor and fly up after Van and Hitomi. Allen had done the same. Soon Van, Hitomi, Dilandou and Allen were wrapped in the same light and floating above the floating fortress.

Van and Hitomi soon released each other from their kiss then gazed at each other. Van saw the shine in Hitomi's eyes had returned. He smiled and held her close.

"Van." Hitomi whispered.

"Yes?" he softly replied and looked down into her eyes.

"Please. Please come and find me."

Van didn't know what she was talking about but he replied "Yes, I promise I'll find you."

Hitomi smiled then seem to drift out of his grasp. She closed her eyes and became unconscious. Before Van became unconscious as well he looked to his side and saw Allen and Dilandou.

Suddenly the light around Hitomi flashed brightly and she was sent off to the north as if a shooting star.

Dilandou to the east, Allen to the south and Van went west. Van had seen which way they had all gone promised he'd find Hitomi before he fell unconscious.

*-----------------------------------------------------------------* End of part 4 Author's notes: After this chap I'm still having wavering thoughts on whether this should be a D/H or V/H. But oh well ^^ Yeah!! Did you like? Did you hate? Pretty please with sugar on top review ^-^ Sorry if you think this chap is corny and mushy in a way. I think it is too o.o but oh well!! They said it!!! See you next chapter!(hopefully)

Eva Maverx