Note: I'm sorry I had to use some English names. The ones used are Damien, Ryan and Juliana. I ran out of Japanese names that I liked and couldn't find anymore, no matter where I looked! It made me so mad. But I felt like I owed a bigger apology to those who read my stories. Most are about Anime such as, Ronin Warriors and Gundam Wing. I no own Escaflowne. – Alkvingiel

Flights of Angels

Part 1

"Promise you'll come back soon." Van said.

"Van…" Hitomi started.

"Promise! Hitomi, I love you. And if you don't come back I… don't know if I…" Van stammered.

"I'll be back, I'll come during my summer break. And then when I'm out of school, maybe I'll come and stay." Hitomi explained fearing for his life. Van smiled at that and hugged her. After they let go of each other, the blue light came down and lifted Hitomi until she disappeared. After Hitomi disappeared Gadus came up behind Van and put a hand on his shoulder. Van looked up at him.

"Come on your majesty, you've got a kingdom to fix up. We want it beautiful for when she comes back." Gadus told him.

"Your right, let's go." Van answered. They walked down the hill to Fanilea and got to work fixing the city from where Zaibach burned it. Over the next year Fanilea became beautiful and prosperous once again. Everyone who returned was happy with the changes that had been made and with their young King. Hitomi kept her word and came to Fanilea each time school was out. Van had a festival each year two days after she arrived. When Van was 19, his court officials, not counting Gadus, started pressuring him to find a Queen and produce an heir.

"Please sire, start looking for a Queen. You shouldn't wait to long. At 19 you should already be married and produced a heir!" Takeo complained as he walked down the hall. Gadus was also with him as Van's bodyguard. He looked from Takeo to Van and saw his annoyed look.

"Leave him alone Takeo. The King will find a Queen when he is ready, now if you will leave us… the King and I have business to discuss." Gadus explained as he opened Van's study door to let him in.

"Thank you Gadus. I hate it when those guys pressure me. I want to marry Hitomi and I've asked her about it but she wants to wait." Van told him.

"And she is right. On Earth young girls don't get married until their late 20's." Gadus explained.

"Have you been talking to Hitomi?" Van questioned.

"Yes sir." Gadus answered. Van smiled and began reading a letter. Van didn't like the letter's purpose; it was a letter declaring war on Fanilea. Gadus saw this look and took the letter when Van lay it down.

"Who is the Red Ribbon Army? And why would they want war with us?" Gadus questioned.

"The Red Ribbon Army is a bunch of men who didn't and doesn't agree with my Father's and my peaceful ways of ruling Fanilea. They think that with so many people here in Fanilea, we should be fighting to take over all of Gaea. If they take over us, there will be nothing but war." Van explained staring out the window. Just then the blue light came down and a form appeared on the hill.

"Is it…" Gadus started but Van was already out the door.

"Hitomi!" Van yelled running up the hill to her.

"Van, I've missed you so much!" Hitomi told him as they hugged each other.

"Welcome Lady Hitomi!" Gadus yelled from the bottom of the hill.

"Hey Gadus!" Hitomi called back.

"Let's get you to the castle and settle you in your rooms. Then you may rest before the festival." Van told her.

"Are you all right Van? You look tired, why not forget about the festival this year and take a rest." Hitomi suggested as they walked down the hill.

"No way! Besides even if we forgot the festival, I would get no rest. And it doesn't matter anyway we have the festival, no argument." Van told her. Hitomi looked up at Van. He had grown a lot since their battles with Zaibach, he was a whole head and a half taller than her now and had become very strong. She put her hand on Van's arm as they walked into the city. It would have been disrespectful if she hadn't. And it was a good thing she had put on her dress she had gotten the last time she was here. Hitomi heard a few whispers as she walked with Van but he didn't seem to even notice. Once back at the castle Hitomi went to her rooms were 2 handmaidens helped her arrange her dresses once again for the time she would be here. Van went to arrange the festival and then came to see Hitomi. They talked and laughed about what had happened in Fanilea and on Earth and then went to dinner. Hitomi's hair had grown to be just a little below her shoulders and she was able to put it up now. Van complemented her on how elegant she looked and Hitomi just laughed. As Gadus stood behind them he saw how happy Van was now that Hitomi was here, he hadn't seen a smile this true since the last time. After they had eaten and went out to a play Van returned carrying a sleeping Hitomi.

"I think she is still a bit tired from the trip here." Van whispered to Gadus.

"I think your right. Are you going to bed now also sire?" Gadus asked.

"No, I still have much to do with this war threat." Van answered laying Hitomi on her bed then leaving her to the handmaidens.

"Sire you need to get some sleep, you can't keep doing this to yourself. If you don't get some sleep soon you will not be able to handle the war and we'll have to get someone to come in." Gadus explained.

"Don't worry about me, just get some sleep yourself." Van replied closing the door to his study behind him.

Hitomi woke up to a boat's horn. It was still quite dark outside but as she sat up she saw a faint light coming from under her door. Hitomi got up and walked down the hall to the source of the light. Van was leaning over a bunch of papers; he looked about to fall asleep.

"Van?" Hitomi whispered walking into the study.

"Hitomi? What are you doing up this late?" Van asked looking up.

"I woke up and there was a light coming from under my door. So I went to see where it was coming from and found you. What are you doing up? On Earth it's 3 in the morning! People usually sleep at this time." Hitomi explained.

"Then it was I who woke you, I'm sorry. Wait! Don't read that!" Van told her jumping up as she picked up the war threat letter.

"Van? Is this why your not sleeping? Because of this war threat?" Hitomi asked. Van sighed and fell beck into his chair.

"Yes, I don't want a war. War only brings death and pain." Van answered. Hitomi walked behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. Van sighed again and a smile came to his lips.

"Van?" Hitomi wondered.

"Humm…?" Van returned sleepily.

"Are you happy I come back time and time again?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes." Van answered.

"Do you want me to stay with you… forever?" Hitomi questioned. Van sighed again but this time it was from falling into a deep sleep.

"Oh Van… I want to stay with you my love. But would I be able to return to see my family on Earth?" Hitomi asked herself. She kissed Van's cheek and covered him with a blanket then went back to her own room. Van apologized the next morning for falling asleep on her.

"It's okay, you've had a lot on your mind." Hitomi replied. 2 days later Allen and Millerna came to see Van.

"Allen! Millerna! It was good of you to come!" Van greeted them.

"It is good to see you to. Now we are the King and Queen of Austria." Allen told him.

"It's about time, you guys will do Austria good. But that is not why I asked you to come here." Van explained.

"And why have you asked us here?" Allen asked.

"The Red Ribbon Army has declared war on Fanilea and I was hoping to have your help if worse comes to worse." Van replied.

"You have it. Hey who is this? It can't be…" Millerna started seeing Hitomi.

"Yes this is Hitomi. She comes each time her school on Earth is out. She was 14 when Zaibach attacked but now she has grown and is 19." Van explained.

"It is good to see you both again." Hitomi said.

"Hitomi, join me for a walk in the garden while these 2 discuss war?" Millerna suggested.

"Sure, see you guys later." Hitomi answered and then they left. Takeo came up to Van and Allen.

"Sire! You must decide on who you want as your queen! Do it now or we will decide for you!" Takeo yelled at him.

"Takeo! Don't brother me with this again! Pressure me one more time and you are gone!" Van screamed then he and Allen walked into his study.

"What was that all about?" Allen asked.

"They want me to marry and produce a heir. But I'm just not ready. And neither is the girl I want to marry." Van told him.

"Let me guess, Hitomi?" Allen questioned.

"Yes, I've asked her about it once but she wants to wait until she is out of school. The thing that troubles us both is what about her family? Will they agree to it if we ever get married?" Van questioned.

"I would think so but Earthlings can be a little weird." Allen replied. Van laughed at that. After that they got to looking over the war threats and discussed what to do about it. Meanwhile…out in the garden…Millerna and Hitomi talked.

"So has Van asked you to marry him yet?" Millerna asked.

"Well… I… we talked about it I guess. But I wanted to wait until I was out of school. But now the only thing holding me back is my family and friends. They are all on Earth except you guys and I would miss them so much." Hitomi explained.

"I see. But Hitomi if you love him then you must marry him. Those court officials, like Takeo, will marry him off without waiting for his approval." Millerna told her.

"I know. I'm just so confused about everything." Hitomi said sitting down on a bench.

"If he came out here and asked you right now… would you say yes?" Millerna questioned.

"Yes, I would. I love him with all my heart and I don't think I could stand to be without him. My family will understand and so will my friends. Grandmother already understands and she talked my mother and father into it, but still I think they will go against it. My friends told me I should go for it as long as I tell them when I'm back on Earth. But I would just miss them so much. I don't know what to do." Hitomi sighed. Millerna put an arm around Hitomi and encouraged her.

Late that night Van came to Hitomi's room. "Hitomi? Would you come with me for a walk? I would like to talk to you." Van told her.

"Of course, just let me get my cloak." Hitomi replied and then took his arm. They walked out to the gardens and walked in silence for awhile.

"Aren't the stars beautiful Van?" Hitomi asked. Van didn't answer; his mind was on something more serious. "Van?" Hitomi asked.

"Yes?" Van replied looking at her.

"Okay what's wrong? I've never seen you this serious?" Hitomi questioned. They had stopped walking and were standing by the lake in the middle of the garden. The Earth and moon hung low in the sky. The moonlight shown down on them, small fireflies flew around them. Suddenly Van got down on one knee and took her hand.

"Hitomi, I have put much thought into this and I want to know if you would be mine? Since the day I meet you I have felt something and until you leave each time I don't realize how much I need you. I love you more than life it's self and would gladly give my own for you. Please except my proposal and making me the happiest man alive by saying you will marry me." Van explained as he held out a ring to her. On the ring was the royal symbol of Van's family; around it were many diamonds and other precious gems. Tears stung Hitomi's eyes as she watched this all happen.

"Yes." Was her simple reply. "Yes! I will marry you Van!" Hitomi yelled as she hugged him knocking them both down. Van smiled and wiped her tears away with his thumb.

"I love you Hitomi." Van said.

"I love you Van." Hitomi replied. Slowly ever so slowly their lips met. In the whole universe there have been 5 kisses rated most passionate, this one left them all behind.