[Here is the next installment. I know that it's sort of following the
Escaflowne storyline but it will change never fear. Enjoy]
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.
Katsu-chan: Wow. I'm really flattered. Thank you. Sailor Centurai: I'm glad you like it. Feye Morgan: *very surprised to have won over a Dilandau fan* Thank you. Rina: Sorry, Allen will of course be a crucial part and a definite rival for Hitomi's attentions. But don't worry, it will be a V/H. Magicman/Smokegirl: Indeed these things do take time. But never fear, it will be soon *ish* LOVE WITCH: Thanks. I like your stories too. ^_^ SabineballZ: Only a few more chapters before they do. Hang in there.
Chapter Four: It Wasn't Supposed to be This Way
We've been traveling all day only stopping once for lunch. Hitomi hasn't said much and she only nodded her head when I suggested we go to Freid, which isn't far off. Merle has been unusually quiet. It's very unsettling. She keeps glancing at Hitomi and I; and while the jealously may have been hard to find on Hitomi's face, Merle's is quite apparent. Her feline scowl told me only too well how much of a problem I have. Firstly, Merle needs to understand that I love her as my sister. And Hitomi . . .
Well let's just say I *should* tell Hitomi how I feel about her. I just don't know how . . . and . . . I don't if she feels the same. Jealousy and blushes may not mean much. Besides . . . she still probably feels for Allen.
It's getting dark now as we tramp through the trees. I'm in Escaflowne and Hitomi and Merle are on its shoulders. I'm still mulling over how to tell Hitomi my feelings for her, or if I even *should*, when I hear her voice hesitantly ring out.
"Van?"
I stop walking and glance towards her through my open visor. "What's wrong?"
She's looking cautiously around the dark trees. "There's something strange . . ." Her voice trails off nervously.
"What's out there?!" Merle's voice screeches in my ears. If those Zaibach bastards didn't know we were here before, they sure know now. I'm thinking of reprimanding Merle for her loudness when . . .
"Van, straight ahead!" Hitomi warns me of an attack. I snap my visor shut quickly and twist sharply to the side to avoid the attack. Hitomi continues to warn me of attacks. Finally, I decide to make a run for it and Merle and Hitomi hang grimly onto Escaflowne's shoulders while we lope through the woods.
As we come in view of a small river, an idea strikes me.
"Hitomi, Merle, get off!!"
"Van, what are you going to do?" I can tell by Hitomi's tone she's worried about me, but I have to protect her and Merle.
"Hurry! Go hide!"
They jump off and I quickly step into the water, making my way to the center. Suddenly there are splashes all around me as a red and some blue guymelefs land. I'm surrounded. Maniacal laughter echoes in the air. "Clever . . ."
I smile slightly in the darkness of my guymelef. I knew I'd be able to see them in the river. Now I can fight without relying on Hitomi. Now she can't get hurt. I glance at her quickly. She's safely on the bank with Merle and Dilandau and his Dragonslayers seem to be totally focused on me.
My gaze flicks back swiftly to my enemies. Dilandau suddenly charges at me and I lock Escaflowne's blade with his liquid metal one. Astonishingly, his blade melts around my sword and I'm weaponless.
"Now, Chesta, Gatti!!" Dilandau calls to his men and more liquid metal shoots into my guymelef's limbs, binding me in place and putting me in a very difficult situation.
"Should I crush you now?" Dilandau's voice filters to my ears and I hear metal squeal against Escaflowne's outer shell as the metal begins to crush inwards. What am I going to do? They'll get Hitomi and Merle too. I don't want them to get hurt.
All hope had fled from me when out of the sky (insert "Flying Dragon" track) Sherazade slashes through my metal bonds.
"Allen!" For once I'm glad he's here. Now there's going to be some serious ass kicking.
"Allen-san!" I almost cringe. Why does she always have to be so happy to see him?
Well, maybe she's just glad he saved me. Yea, that might me it. 'Sure, Van. Keep on deluding yourself.'
As I throw myself into the fray I mentally cross my fingers that that is indeed why she's so happy.
I manage to damage (that rhymes!!) a blue guymelef quite badly and it slides into shallow water and remains motionless. Dilandau doesn't seem to take to kindly to me damaging one of his soldiers and he shoots a myriad of liquid metal spears at me. I block them expertly and they shoot off in random directions. I am, however, horrified to see on of them shoot straight at Hitomi.
"No!!" Allen and I both yell and rush towards her to block the spear.
I make it first and fling myself in front of her. The spear penetrates Escaflowne's cockpit with a horrible crunching sound and I feel an excruciating pain in my abdomen. It's so intense I suck in my breath sharply, only succeeding in causing myself more pain. I collapse to my knees as I feel blood flowing down my sweat-drenched skin.
"Van!!" I can dimly hear Hitomi's voice in my ears. "Van, answer me!"
As I sink into darkness I can see her stricken face through the visor slits. "I'm glad I could protect you, Hitomi."
Everything goes black.
[Hahahahahahaha!!!!!! I'm evil and I know it. You guys didn't get ANY fluff that chapter. Maybe next time, ne? Please review]
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.
Katsu-chan: Wow. I'm really flattered. Thank you. Sailor Centurai: I'm glad you like it. Feye Morgan: *very surprised to have won over a Dilandau fan* Thank you. Rina: Sorry, Allen will of course be a crucial part and a definite rival for Hitomi's attentions. But don't worry, it will be a V/H. Magicman/Smokegirl: Indeed these things do take time. But never fear, it will be soon *ish* LOVE WITCH: Thanks. I like your stories too. ^_^ SabineballZ: Only a few more chapters before they do. Hang in there.
Chapter Four: It Wasn't Supposed to be This Way
We've been traveling all day only stopping once for lunch. Hitomi hasn't said much and she only nodded her head when I suggested we go to Freid, which isn't far off. Merle has been unusually quiet. It's very unsettling. She keeps glancing at Hitomi and I; and while the jealously may have been hard to find on Hitomi's face, Merle's is quite apparent. Her feline scowl told me only too well how much of a problem I have. Firstly, Merle needs to understand that I love her as my sister. And Hitomi . . .
Well let's just say I *should* tell Hitomi how I feel about her. I just don't know how . . . and . . . I don't if she feels the same. Jealousy and blushes may not mean much. Besides . . . she still probably feels for Allen.
It's getting dark now as we tramp through the trees. I'm in Escaflowne and Hitomi and Merle are on its shoulders. I'm still mulling over how to tell Hitomi my feelings for her, or if I even *should*, when I hear her voice hesitantly ring out.
"Van?"
I stop walking and glance towards her through my open visor. "What's wrong?"
She's looking cautiously around the dark trees. "There's something strange . . ." Her voice trails off nervously.
"What's out there?!" Merle's voice screeches in my ears. If those Zaibach bastards didn't know we were here before, they sure know now. I'm thinking of reprimanding Merle for her loudness when . . .
"Van, straight ahead!" Hitomi warns me of an attack. I snap my visor shut quickly and twist sharply to the side to avoid the attack. Hitomi continues to warn me of attacks. Finally, I decide to make a run for it and Merle and Hitomi hang grimly onto Escaflowne's shoulders while we lope through the woods.
As we come in view of a small river, an idea strikes me.
"Hitomi, Merle, get off!!"
"Van, what are you going to do?" I can tell by Hitomi's tone she's worried about me, but I have to protect her and Merle.
"Hurry! Go hide!"
They jump off and I quickly step into the water, making my way to the center. Suddenly there are splashes all around me as a red and some blue guymelefs land. I'm surrounded. Maniacal laughter echoes in the air. "Clever . . ."
I smile slightly in the darkness of my guymelef. I knew I'd be able to see them in the river. Now I can fight without relying on Hitomi. Now she can't get hurt. I glance at her quickly. She's safely on the bank with Merle and Dilandau and his Dragonslayers seem to be totally focused on me.
My gaze flicks back swiftly to my enemies. Dilandau suddenly charges at me and I lock Escaflowne's blade with his liquid metal one. Astonishingly, his blade melts around my sword and I'm weaponless.
"Now, Chesta, Gatti!!" Dilandau calls to his men and more liquid metal shoots into my guymelef's limbs, binding me in place and putting me in a very difficult situation.
"Should I crush you now?" Dilandau's voice filters to my ears and I hear metal squeal against Escaflowne's outer shell as the metal begins to crush inwards. What am I going to do? They'll get Hitomi and Merle too. I don't want them to get hurt.
All hope had fled from me when out of the sky (insert "Flying Dragon" track) Sherazade slashes through my metal bonds.
"Allen!" For once I'm glad he's here. Now there's going to be some serious ass kicking.
"Allen-san!" I almost cringe. Why does she always have to be so happy to see him?
Well, maybe she's just glad he saved me. Yea, that might me it. 'Sure, Van. Keep on deluding yourself.'
As I throw myself into the fray I mentally cross my fingers that that is indeed why she's so happy.
I manage to damage (that rhymes!!) a blue guymelef quite badly and it slides into shallow water and remains motionless. Dilandau doesn't seem to take to kindly to me damaging one of his soldiers and he shoots a myriad of liquid metal spears at me. I block them expertly and they shoot off in random directions. I am, however, horrified to see on of them shoot straight at Hitomi.
"No!!" Allen and I both yell and rush towards her to block the spear.
I make it first and fling myself in front of her. The spear penetrates Escaflowne's cockpit with a horrible crunching sound and I feel an excruciating pain in my abdomen. It's so intense I suck in my breath sharply, only succeeding in causing myself more pain. I collapse to my knees as I feel blood flowing down my sweat-drenched skin.
"Van!!" I can dimly hear Hitomi's voice in my ears. "Van, answer me!"
As I sink into darkness I can see her stricken face through the visor slits. "I'm glad I could protect you, Hitomi."
Everything goes black.
[Hahahahahahaha!!!!!! I'm evil and I know it. You guys didn't get ANY fluff that chapter. Maybe next time, ne? Please review]