Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne (this is getting really old)
ack!!.........I couldn't think of anything else to say..........BILL THE
CAT ROCKS!!! _ O.O......*goes poofes*
'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 5
A cool wind blew down Hitomi's back on to her bare legs. As she opened her eyes she saw only darkness that was barely lit by the light of the Mystic Moon.
Pushing herself up on her weak arms she stared down at grass. Turning over on her back she saw she was surrounded by trees. Above her hung the Mystic Moon like it did every night.
Getting to her knees she knew she had no idea where she was or where the others were. It was night and cold winds blew against her. Shivering she pulled her legs to chest and wrapped her arms around them. A small tear fell from her eye and landed on the back of her hand.
"Van." she whispered and buried her head in her knees.
She recalled that when Van had come it was noon or close to that time. And now it was night so she must have been asleep for a while. But did she fall asleep for only some hours or was it the next day.
Either way her stomach made a low growl.
"Gezz I haven't eaten for a while have I?" she said with a small smile then stood up.
A faint sound was heard from the distance. Standing still she stood and listened very carefully. She heard very faintly the sound of running water. Sighing with relief she guessed it was a stream and headed in the direction she heard it from.
There was a loud splash and she wondered if anyone was there. She hoped there was, maybe she could ask where she was. Emerging from some brush Hitomi's smile faded away when she saw who it was.
What looked like a bandit was knelt by the stream sipping some water from his cupped palm. He looked up after hearing a rustling in front of him. He must of been 20 or older.
She turned around and began to try and run away but he was quickly behind her and grabbed her by her wrists.
His head appeared over her shoulder and he smirked at the look of horror on her face. "Where are you going girl?"
"No, let go!" she cried and pushed away from him.
The man made no reply but instead pushed her to the ground. Holding her hands above her head with one hand he searched her for valuables with the other.
When she made an attempt to scream she was cut short with a quick slap.
"Shut up!" He hissed.
Whimpering Hitomi squirmed underneath him than managed to kick him hard in the shins causing him to let go of her for an instant. Once out of his grasp and reach she bolted up on her feet.
"Bitch." He growled once he stood up.
She backed away from him. Tripping on a rock she landed in the shallow of the stream.
The freezing cold water was a very unwanted awake for her as it soaked her dress and make it stick to her body. Looking back up at the bandit he quickly got to his knees and got a tight grip around her neck.
She left out a blood-curdling scream as he pushed her back in the water and he held Hitomi under the water. Hitomi thrashed about and was able to kick him in the stomach.
Recoiling some from the pain he lost his grip for a second giving Hitomi a chance to break the surface and breathe. Glaring at her he pushed Hitomi back down under the water.
Looking down at her he saw her lips turn blue. Her grip around his wrists to pull him off her was weakening. Thinking she had lost the will to live he let go but the moment he did Hitomi's fist shot up and punched him back. Sitting up for the last Hitomi sat up breathing hard.
She was so cold so it was hard to, some water and managed to slip in her lungs so she coughed hard. Suddenly she was pushed back down in the water. This time she landed on a sharp rock that left a deadly gash on her side.
The cold salt water made it sting like crazy as blood oozed from it and was swept down the stream. His hands were still tightly around her neck holding her head below.
Finally her mouth burst open and water began to fill her lungs. The loss of blood made her head spin as her grip slipped from his hands. Her eyes shut as her will to live left her. She now laid motionless in the water.
A gash on her side and her face as pale and as white as a china doll. He smirked seeing her life slip away from her body. Carefully letting go of her neck he was tense just in case she shot up but nothing happened.
Standing up he stared down at the dead Hitomi that had died at his hand.
"Hey you!" a voice shouted.
Looking up the bandit saw people walked towards him with torches and pitchforks. He quickly darted off leaving Hitomi's body in the stream. There were three men. As they walked to the stream to see what the man had been doing they saw Hitomi.
"Poor girl." one mumbled. The other two gently lifted her out of the water and set her on by the bank.
"Is she alive?" another one asked.
Seeing the gash on her side and her unearthly pale face the man shook his head in sorrow.
"Doesn't look like. He held her under to long."
The other men kneeled down around her. One held his head over her mouth to hear for breathing but there was nothing. Another put a finger on neck to check for a pulse. At first there was nothing but then he felt, just barely, a small beat. Gently he cupped a hand over her cheek and felt that her skin was as cold as ice.
"Damn thieves. Lets get her in."
Nodding one of them picked her up with one hand on her back and other under her legs. Then they headed back to village they had come from.
*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
It had been two longs days since they had attacked the floating fortress and separated by the light. Van was tired but hadn't given up the search for Allen and Hitomi. He had gone north first to look for Hitomi but had no luck.
He had stumbled upon at least three villages but none had seen a young girl. But they all had been kind enough to let him rest and eat.
After all he was king of Fanelia. Sighing he trudged down a path. He didn't have a clue where Hitomi was next to that she was north.
But what if she moved and went to look for him? He hoped she didn't and looked up a head of him. There was a tiny village.
'Maybe they've seen Hitomi' Van thought and a small bubble of hope grew.
There was an old lady outside a small house sweeping the front step. Walking up to her Van cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Hello young man." she said in a sweet voice. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes. Have you seen a young woman come through this town? She has long brown hair, green eyes. About my height and is dressed in black." Van said.
A man stepped out of the house and stared at Van. "Ah so you know the little lady eh?"
He said. "Yes do you know where she is?!" Van almost shouted. His hopes rose.
"Why yes. She's inside. It's a miracle she's held on this long." the woman shook her head. "She's such pretty thing to go to waste." she sighed and went back to sweeping.
Van's blood ran cold. 'Hitomi is hurt?!' "Please, may I see her??" Van said to the old man. Nodding the man turned back into the house and walked inside with Van behind him. He led Van to a small room. In it was a pale girl resting on a bed.
"Hitomi!" Van exclaimed and ran to the bed. Hitomi's lips were still blue and her eyes were still shut tight.
"What happened to her?!"
"We'll it was at least two days ago. Me and two friends were out late in the fields there was scream we heard down by the stream. By the time we got there we saw this boy holding her under water. He left once we got there. But she was as white as snow. The gash on her side made her lose a lot of blood. We weren't sure she was going to make it. Her lungs were filled with water and no signs of breathing. But there was barely a pulse. We took her back and for the past two days me and my wife having been nursing her our best back to health. We've been given her this liquid that we got from the local healer." he stopped and pointed to a bottle on the table next to them. "It's supposed to help her cough. Thats how we've gotten most of the water out. But there wasn't much we could do for the wound on her side."
Van lifted the blanket from Hitomi and saw her bandaged side. Gently laying the blanket back down Van's head hung staring at Hitomi.
In a low voice he asked "Who did this to her?"
The man scratched his chin then said "There are thieves that roam around on the outskirts of the forest. It must of been one of them that attacked her to see if she had any goods."
"I'll kill him." Van growled between his clenched teeth.
Looking back at Hitomi he saw how ill and pale she looked. It made his heart ache terribly. Leaning forward he gave a soft kiss on her cheek then stood up.
He turned to the couple. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of her." Van said and gave a small bow. "It's quiet already. It's a pleasure taking care of her. By the way, what is your name?"
"I'm Van. Van Fanel."
"Oh! They young king of Fanelia?"
Van nodded. "Why then it is an honor to help you. Is there anything else we can do for you with?"
"Yes, do you have a horse I may borrow? I need to get to Asturia."
The man nodded and led Van out to their small barn. "Please take this stallion." Taking out a black horse he put on it's saddle and bridle. Once outside Van pulled himself up on the back of the horse and thanked them.
"Again I thank you."
"You're very welcome young king. We shall watch over your lady till you get back."
Van blushed slightly, smiled at them then clucked his tongue and took off down the road. As they watched him disappear down the path they suddenly heard the horse nay and the sound of Van flying off over the horse and landing with a thud. Then a series of cursing from Van as he got back up.
They both stood silent then the woman spoke "You forgot to mention that there was a fallen tree in the road and that horse can't do jumps good. Am I right?" He was silent for a moment then said quickly while walking away.
"Totally slipped my mind." ( AN: I know! I know! That was really bad humor but I had to do something to lift the mood O.o I did a really bad job though, didn't I? *winces as a can hits her head* -_- owchie......)
*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
"Well we thought you'd never wake up." cooed a voice.
Hitomi forced her eyes open and stare up at ceiling. Rolling her head to the side she saw an elder woman sitting in a chair smiling at her. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak but her throat felt sore and dry. Instead she pushed herself up before an incredible pain at her side pulled her back down.
The woman stood up helped Hitomi to sit up against a pillow. Still unable to speak Hitomi gave a smile that used all her strength to make. She nodded back to Hitomi and walked out of the room.
Questions flooded her mind. Where was she? Who was that?
Coming back in the room the woman held a bowl with contained some kind of soup.
"Here." she said sitting back next to Hitomi. "Drink this, it'll help with your throat."
Holding the bowl to Hitomi's lips she tilted it so the soup poured slowly into her scarcely open mouth. The warm fluid soothed her throat and she got her voice back.
"Thank you."
"It's a pleasure dear. To help such a sweet girl as you and the king of Fanelia."
"Van?" Hitomi asked. Van had been here???
"Yes. He came just a day ago looking for you then left to go to Asturia."
A smile made it's way up Hitomi's face. Van had come for her.
"I'll bet your name is Hitomi." the woman said while taking the bowl back and setting on a small table.
"H-how did you know?" she stuttered then realized that Van must have told them. She glowed from being pleased. The woman saw Hitomi's face radiating with happiness.
"Yes it was him."
Smiling Hitomi gave a deep sigh and winced when she mistakenly laid her arm on her wounded side. "You'll have to stay in bed until that side heals up. You also have a little fever. Probably from being in that freezing water. Don't worry though it's nothing to frit about, it'll clear up soon."
Giving a small nod Hitomi laid back on the bed and closed her eyes in thought. The woman took the bowl and left Hitomi to get some rest.
Once she left troubled looks clashed on Hitomi face. Clutching the sheets in her hands she remembered the night all to clearly. Even in the warm bed she shivered remembering the cold water that surrounded her.
Pushing the thoughts from her mind she settled down and drifted to sleep..............
That is if a loud crash hadn't woken her. Lifting her head up she tried to look in the next room. Items were being hurled around till a loud thud ended it. Standing up, even though she knew she shouldn't, Hitomi slowly made her way to the room.
There were broken chairs, turned over table but it was the person on the floor that caught her attention. Kneeling down she saw the kind woman crippled on the floor.
"What happened?? Are you alright?!" Hitomi exclaimed.
The woman looked up with a pained expression on her face "Please leave Hitomi." she moaned then winced and collapsed.
'What!? Who's attacking??'
Hitomi thought but heeded the woman's words and stood up to walked to the door. Before walking she looked around to see if she could see who did this but saw nothing. She had just gotten to the door when foot steps behind her made her whirl around.
Shadows concealed the person's face. Before she could see who, the person held a sword in it's hand that came up, roughly tapped and began dig in her side.
Letting out a small yelp of pain she cringed back down to the floor.
Just as she weakly lifted her head to look up, an arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her up. This person seemed to easily be able hold her up with one arm, she inspected as she stared down at the ground. Her feet weren't even touching the ground.
'Who the hell is this?!?' she thought as it walked out the door with Hitomi hanging by it's side.
*-----------------------------------------------------------------* End of part 5 Authors notes: Glad thats over with! I'm having hard times typing and doing school work so I'm glad the weekends come at least once a week (or is it twice???). Just so you may know I'm not trying to make Dilly a bad guy. See ya next chapter!
Eva Maverx
'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 5
A cool wind blew down Hitomi's back on to her bare legs. As she opened her eyes she saw only darkness that was barely lit by the light of the Mystic Moon.
Pushing herself up on her weak arms she stared down at grass. Turning over on her back she saw she was surrounded by trees. Above her hung the Mystic Moon like it did every night.
Getting to her knees she knew she had no idea where she was or where the others were. It was night and cold winds blew against her. Shivering she pulled her legs to chest and wrapped her arms around them. A small tear fell from her eye and landed on the back of her hand.
"Van." she whispered and buried her head in her knees.
She recalled that when Van had come it was noon or close to that time. And now it was night so she must have been asleep for a while. But did she fall asleep for only some hours or was it the next day.
Either way her stomach made a low growl.
"Gezz I haven't eaten for a while have I?" she said with a small smile then stood up.
A faint sound was heard from the distance. Standing still she stood and listened very carefully. She heard very faintly the sound of running water. Sighing with relief she guessed it was a stream and headed in the direction she heard it from.
There was a loud splash and she wondered if anyone was there. She hoped there was, maybe she could ask where she was. Emerging from some brush Hitomi's smile faded away when she saw who it was.
What looked like a bandit was knelt by the stream sipping some water from his cupped palm. He looked up after hearing a rustling in front of him. He must of been 20 or older.
She turned around and began to try and run away but he was quickly behind her and grabbed her by her wrists.
His head appeared over her shoulder and he smirked at the look of horror on her face. "Where are you going girl?"
"No, let go!" she cried and pushed away from him.
The man made no reply but instead pushed her to the ground. Holding her hands above her head with one hand he searched her for valuables with the other.
When she made an attempt to scream she was cut short with a quick slap.
"Shut up!" He hissed.
Whimpering Hitomi squirmed underneath him than managed to kick him hard in the shins causing him to let go of her for an instant. Once out of his grasp and reach she bolted up on her feet.
"Bitch." He growled once he stood up.
She backed away from him. Tripping on a rock she landed in the shallow of the stream.
The freezing cold water was a very unwanted awake for her as it soaked her dress and make it stick to her body. Looking back up at the bandit he quickly got to his knees and got a tight grip around her neck.
She left out a blood-curdling scream as he pushed her back in the water and he held Hitomi under the water. Hitomi thrashed about and was able to kick him in the stomach.
Recoiling some from the pain he lost his grip for a second giving Hitomi a chance to break the surface and breathe. Glaring at her he pushed Hitomi back down under the water.
Looking down at her he saw her lips turn blue. Her grip around his wrists to pull him off her was weakening. Thinking she had lost the will to live he let go but the moment he did Hitomi's fist shot up and punched him back. Sitting up for the last Hitomi sat up breathing hard.
She was so cold so it was hard to, some water and managed to slip in her lungs so she coughed hard. Suddenly she was pushed back down in the water. This time she landed on a sharp rock that left a deadly gash on her side.
The cold salt water made it sting like crazy as blood oozed from it and was swept down the stream. His hands were still tightly around her neck holding her head below.
Finally her mouth burst open and water began to fill her lungs. The loss of blood made her head spin as her grip slipped from his hands. Her eyes shut as her will to live left her. She now laid motionless in the water.
A gash on her side and her face as pale and as white as a china doll. He smirked seeing her life slip away from her body. Carefully letting go of her neck he was tense just in case she shot up but nothing happened.
Standing up he stared down at the dead Hitomi that had died at his hand.
"Hey you!" a voice shouted.
Looking up the bandit saw people walked towards him with torches and pitchforks. He quickly darted off leaving Hitomi's body in the stream. There were three men. As they walked to the stream to see what the man had been doing they saw Hitomi.
"Poor girl." one mumbled. The other two gently lifted her out of the water and set her on by the bank.
"Is she alive?" another one asked.
Seeing the gash on her side and her unearthly pale face the man shook his head in sorrow.
"Doesn't look like. He held her under to long."
The other men kneeled down around her. One held his head over her mouth to hear for breathing but there was nothing. Another put a finger on neck to check for a pulse. At first there was nothing but then he felt, just barely, a small beat. Gently he cupped a hand over her cheek and felt that her skin was as cold as ice.
"Damn thieves. Lets get her in."
Nodding one of them picked her up with one hand on her back and other under her legs. Then they headed back to village they had come from.
*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
It had been two longs days since they had attacked the floating fortress and separated by the light. Van was tired but hadn't given up the search for Allen and Hitomi. He had gone north first to look for Hitomi but had no luck.
He had stumbled upon at least three villages but none had seen a young girl. But they all had been kind enough to let him rest and eat.
After all he was king of Fanelia. Sighing he trudged down a path. He didn't have a clue where Hitomi was next to that she was north.
But what if she moved and went to look for him? He hoped she didn't and looked up a head of him. There was a tiny village.
'Maybe they've seen Hitomi' Van thought and a small bubble of hope grew.
There was an old lady outside a small house sweeping the front step. Walking up to her Van cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Hello young man." she said in a sweet voice. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes. Have you seen a young woman come through this town? She has long brown hair, green eyes. About my height and is dressed in black." Van said.
A man stepped out of the house and stared at Van. "Ah so you know the little lady eh?"
He said. "Yes do you know where she is?!" Van almost shouted. His hopes rose.
"Why yes. She's inside. It's a miracle she's held on this long." the woman shook her head. "She's such pretty thing to go to waste." she sighed and went back to sweeping.
Van's blood ran cold. 'Hitomi is hurt?!' "Please, may I see her??" Van said to the old man. Nodding the man turned back into the house and walked inside with Van behind him. He led Van to a small room. In it was a pale girl resting on a bed.
"Hitomi!" Van exclaimed and ran to the bed. Hitomi's lips were still blue and her eyes were still shut tight.
"What happened to her?!"
"We'll it was at least two days ago. Me and two friends were out late in the fields there was scream we heard down by the stream. By the time we got there we saw this boy holding her under water. He left once we got there. But she was as white as snow. The gash on her side made her lose a lot of blood. We weren't sure she was going to make it. Her lungs were filled with water and no signs of breathing. But there was barely a pulse. We took her back and for the past two days me and my wife having been nursing her our best back to health. We've been given her this liquid that we got from the local healer." he stopped and pointed to a bottle on the table next to them. "It's supposed to help her cough. Thats how we've gotten most of the water out. But there wasn't much we could do for the wound on her side."
Van lifted the blanket from Hitomi and saw her bandaged side. Gently laying the blanket back down Van's head hung staring at Hitomi.
In a low voice he asked "Who did this to her?"
The man scratched his chin then said "There are thieves that roam around on the outskirts of the forest. It must of been one of them that attacked her to see if she had any goods."
"I'll kill him." Van growled between his clenched teeth.
Looking back at Hitomi he saw how ill and pale she looked. It made his heart ache terribly. Leaning forward he gave a soft kiss on her cheek then stood up.
He turned to the couple. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking care of her." Van said and gave a small bow. "It's quiet already. It's a pleasure taking care of her. By the way, what is your name?"
"I'm Van. Van Fanel."
"Oh! They young king of Fanelia?"
Van nodded. "Why then it is an honor to help you. Is there anything else we can do for you with?"
"Yes, do you have a horse I may borrow? I need to get to Asturia."
The man nodded and led Van out to their small barn. "Please take this stallion." Taking out a black horse he put on it's saddle and bridle. Once outside Van pulled himself up on the back of the horse and thanked them.
"Again I thank you."
"You're very welcome young king. We shall watch over your lady till you get back."
Van blushed slightly, smiled at them then clucked his tongue and took off down the road. As they watched him disappear down the path they suddenly heard the horse nay and the sound of Van flying off over the horse and landing with a thud. Then a series of cursing from Van as he got back up.
They both stood silent then the woman spoke "You forgot to mention that there was a fallen tree in the road and that horse can't do jumps good. Am I right?" He was silent for a moment then said quickly while walking away.
"Totally slipped my mind." ( AN: I know! I know! That was really bad humor but I had to do something to lift the mood O.o I did a really bad job though, didn't I? *winces as a can hits her head* -_- owchie......)
*-----------------------------------------------------------------*
"Well we thought you'd never wake up." cooed a voice.
Hitomi forced her eyes open and stare up at ceiling. Rolling her head to the side she saw an elder woman sitting in a chair smiling at her. Hitomi opened her mouth to speak but her throat felt sore and dry. Instead she pushed herself up before an incredible pain at her side pulled her back down.
The woman stood up helped Hitomi to sit up against a pillow. Still unable to speak Hitomi gave a smile that used all her strength to make. She nodded back to Hitomi and walked out of the room.
Questions flooded her mind. Where was she? Who was that?
Coming back in the room the woman held a bowl with contained some kind of soup.
"Here." she said sitting back next to Hitomi. "Drink this, it'll help with your throat."
Holding the bowl to Hitomi's lips she tilted it so the soup poured slowly into her scarcely open mouth. The warm fluid soothed her throat and she got her voice back.
"Thank you."
"It's a pleasure dear. To help such a sweet girl as you and the king of Fanelia."
"Van?" Hitomi asked. Van had been here???
"Yes. He came just a day ago looking for you then left to go to Asturia."
A smile made it's way up Hitomi's face. Van had come for her.
"I'll bet your name is Hitomi." the woman said while taking the bowl back and setting on a small table.
"H-how did you know?" she stuttered then realized that Van must have told them. She glowed from being pleased. The woman saw Hitomi's face radiating with happiness.
"Yes it was him."
Smiling Hitomi gave a deep sigh and winced when she mistakenly laid her arm on her wounded side. "You'll have to stay in bed until that side heals up. You also have a little fever. Probably from being in that freezing water. Don't worry though it's nothing to frit about, it'll clear up soon."
Giving a small nod Hitomi laid back on the bed and closed her eyes in thought. The woman took the bowl and left Hitomi to get some rest.
Once she left troubled looks clashed on Hitomi face. Clutching the sheets in her hands she remembered the night all to clearly. Even in the warm bed she shivered remembering the cold water that surrounded her.
Pushing the thoughts from her mind she settled down and drifted to sleep..............
That is if a loud crash hadn't woken her. Lifting her head up she tried to look in the next room. Items were being hurled around till a loud thud ended it. Standing up, even though she knew she shouldn't, Hitomi slowly made her way to the room.
There were broken chairs, turned over table but it was the person on the floor that caught her attention. Kneeling down she saw the kind woman crippled on the floor.
"What happened?? Are you alright?!" Hitomi exclaimed.
The woman looked up with a pained expression on her face "Please leave Hitomi." she moaned then winced and collapsed.
'What!? Who's attacking??'
Hitomi thought but heeded the woman's words and stood up to walked to the door. Before walking she looked around to see if she could see who did this but saw nothing. She had just gotten to the door when foot steps behind her made her whirl around.
Shadows concealed the person's face. Before she could see who, the person held a sword in it's hand that came up, roughly tapped and began dig in her side.
Letting out a small yelp of pain she cringed back down to the floor.
Just as she weakly lifted her head to look up, an arm wrapped around her waist and lifted her up. This person seemed to easily be able hold her up with one arm, she inspected as she stared down at the ground. Her feet weren't even touching the ground.
'Who the hell is this?!?' she thought as it walked out the door with Hitomi hanging by it's side.
*-----------------------------------------------------------------* End of part 5 Authors notes: Glad thats over with! I'm having hard times typing and doing school work so I'm glad the weekends come at least once a week (or is it twice???). Just so you may know I'm not trying to make Dilly a bad guy. See ya next chapter!
Eva Maverx
