Disclaimer: Escaflowne…still, not mine. Juniper however, belongs to me. She folds my laundry on weekends.

(A/N)- finally I'm back. I haven't quite figured out how often I'm going to update…daily is impossible, weekly is more like it. Sorry if you want a faster story, but I have carefully laid out plans for this one (as my buddy Pailay was oh so kind to point out) and it takes time…so enjoy!

character thoughts flashback

Chapter 7- Enter Allen and one unconscious Hitomi

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Allen sat in the dust in the bottom of a steep ravine. Hitomi's head lay in his lap, a futile effort of Allen's to make her comfortable. He brushed a few wisps of hair away from her eyes. What he wouldn't give to see her emerald eyes again… A shadow moved across her face and Allen glared at the source. A healer had approached the pair.

"We are prepared to move Miss Kanzaki now."

"Go ahead."

Ever so carefully Allen stood up. Six soldiers approached with a makeshift stretcher. Allen picked Hitomi up. Her head rolled to the side, exposing the cut on her neck. Hitomi was lucky; the wound was a mere inch away from her vein. Allen quickly set her down on the stretcher. A few rags were attached to it, to keep Hitomi safely secured.

"Hurry now, the faster we get her cleaned up, the better off she'll be." Allen barked common sense orders at his men. Tension crackled through the air. The climb out of the ravine was going to be difficult.

Step by cautious step, the group made it up to the top. A tent had been set up in the clearing for Hitomi. She needed medical attention, and the healer wasn't going to cut it. Inside the tent, the healer prepared for Hitomi's arrival. A cot was placed near the back. A bowl of water, bandages, and a few herbs occupied a table. Hopefully Millerna was on her way.

The healer moved slowly towards the door, trying to get an obnoxious fly outside. He parted the doors just in time to allow Hitomi's entourage to carry her inside. They set her down on the cot and the healer gasped. Hitomi's face had lost all color, making the blood seem even more bright and ugly. Allen growled at his soldiers and they practically ran out the door.

"How bad is it?" Allen turned his glare towards the healer.

"S-Sir I need to perform a b-basic check b-before I know."

"Quickly…Millerna is on her way and I want to know EXACTLY what is wrong."

"Uh…Okay. Could you please w-wait outside? Things will p-progress much faster."

Without a word Allen stalked out and sat down just outside the door. The healer worked feverishly…he knew Allen's lack of patience could turn deadly. He carefully wiped the dirt and blood off Hitomi's face and neck. Other than the jagged cut on her neck, she had a few bruises and many tiny scratches. He gently bandaged the large cut and gently cleaned up the scratches.

The healer continued to give her the most basic care…if was all he could do. Hitomi was seriously injured and Millerna was her only hope. After an hour or so, Allen had worn a path in the grass; his thoughts were tearing him apart. He practically ran over when the healer opened the tent door.

"How is she?" The healer motioned Allen inside. "It's not good. She has many scrapes and bruises, which will heal. There is a deep cut on her neck, from a poisoned knife or dagger of some sort." Allen frowned. Dilandau would pay dearly. "She is in a poison induced coma. Millerna should be able to find an antidote. I estimate a week before she's critically ill."

"Why can't she wake up?"

"Give it time. I believe Millerna will find a cure. But she was exhausted before she came to Gaea and our run in with Dilandau didn't help. You can keep watch over her, she may wake up sometime tonight, but I doubt it."

The healer spoke sadly. He knew Allen would stay whether he had permission or not. Allen nodded. He would be there when Hitomi woke up. "Thank you. You can rest now." The healer nodded and left. Allen pulled a chair up to her cot and stared at Hitomi. She looks so ghost-like. What if she slips past life? Right into death? Dilandau…Why didn't I get to her first?

Allen walked across the bridge of the airship to where Van stood searching for Hitomi.

"We'll find her Van, no worries."

"You know I can't help it. She left Gaea in a fit of rage. Now she's come back, but for what purpose?"

Allen smiled inside, but kept his face solumn. He knew why Hitomi had come back..

"I'm sure things will all work out. You have bigger fish in the ocean though. What with Zaibach and the Dragon Slayers raising hell again."

Van looked at Allen mournfully. "Dilandau's not dead… I couldn't kill him. Selena, I mean."

Allen swallowed a lump in his throat. "Thank you Van. I know how many problems we've created for you."

Van smiled weakly. "Just get through it one day at a time…and help me find Hitomi before Dilandau does."

The two men fell into silence. Allen patted Van on the back before he went back down below to his quarters. He quickly fell into a restless sleep. Van stayed on deck, looking for any signs of Hitomi, her last words echoing in his mind. "I can't believe I ever thought I loved you…" And the angry glare she gave him right before the white light took her off Gaea.


Now, a good month after she left, Van had seen a light come back from the Mystic Moon. He had been tempted to fly off by himself but that would have only made the situation worse. Allen and Van had already planned on investigating the rumors of Dragon Slayers in the south. Near Hitomi…

Van snapped back into the present when a piercing scream sliced through the air. Hitomi! She was in pain, some one was hurting her! The airship stuttered to a halt, there was something blocking it from continuing. Van ran to the back of the ship and looked down. His eyes grew as he took in the horrific sight.

Hitomi was on the ground, not moving and bleeding in the dust. Dilandau towered over her, his guymelef behind the pair. He was laughing...the insane maniac was laughing. Dilandau didn't stop laughing as his gaze rose to meet Van's. A dagger, dripping with fresh red blood was in his hand. Van almost leapt off the ship but was stopped by Dilandau's voice, magically amplified for all to hear.

"Stop. Come down here and she dies." Dilandau gave a signal and several other guymelefs de-cloaked and opened fire on the airship. Dilandau got into his guymelefs and flew up to join the fun. He jumped to the deck, abandoning his guymelefs to fight with Van. The two paced in a circle.

Tired of the game already, Dilandau lunged at Van. "You're going to pay!!"

The pair dueled, evenly; it was a well-matched fight. Van was the better trained of the two, but Dilandau had fire in his veins. An explosion rocked the ship and sent both men off balance. Dilandau recovered quickly and lunged again for Van's throat. He was thirsty for Van's blood. Dilandau giggled at the thought of Van's corpse lying on the deck, blood dripping off his sword and pooling on the deck.

Van stumbled away from the attack and was knocked off the airship by yet another explosion. Dilandau cackled as he watched his enemy fall. A third massive explosion rocked the ship and sent Dilandau tumbling to the deck. His head hit with a sickening thwack and he blacked out. Allen came running towards the fallen form of Dilandau...

Allen shook his head. He'd been over this scene so many times in his head. Each time Hitomi screamed. Each time Van fell. Each time was exactly the same. Allen sighed and turned to stare at Hitomi again, the same images flashing in his mind...

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(A/N) Yippee!! Another chapter! Yea its been awhile, but I haven't stopped writing…more slowed down than anything. But review please, don't make me beg!