Again, my small replies.
Mystic Angel: Well, I kind of update every now and then, depends on what's happening with me. I also might just not really have the next chapter planned..anyway, I'm basically a random updater. Thanks for the praise!
SPIKECRAZI13: yay, I'll read it
Thanks to Lady Luna, Lady Laran, Kat-Tastrophe, Cyber1, Draco, ice, Youkai Yume, Maia Webmistress, raven, farhancharizard, aradow, SabineballZ, Sailor Centauri, Scarlet Pheonix, Crystal Night, and esca chick.
Disclaimer: Man, these things are going to become very annoying. I don't own Escaflowne so no suing and other such mean things *waves*
Through the Rainy Haze
Chapter# 3: After the Rain
His breath caught in his throat. He slowly pushed himself up off the ground, his eyes wide with shock. He slowly lifted his hand to swipe back the hair falling into his face as he gazed up at her. His mouth hung slightly open and he stayed staring for a long period of time, too overwhelmed with the unexpectedness of her being there. Van slowly forced himself out of this trance as his mind began to buzz with questions. What was she doing there? This was the most prominent and he found himself asking this in his head over and over again. Why-.how did she find him? Why was she even looking for him? And why on Gaea was she not with Allen?!
Van found himself feeling slightly bitter. Why did she always have to be so damn confusing? First she's kissing Allen, now she was here with him, not doing anything, just staring at him with those huge green eyes of hers. He felt like taking her by the shoulders and shaking her.
"What.are you doing here?" Even he could hear the bitterness in his voice. Hitomi opened her mouth but it seemed no words would come out. He decided to ask more questions, seeing as the first one was not being answered and his head felt like it would explode. "Why aren't you with Allen!" he cried, now fully standing up, his eyes blazing while raking his hands through his hair. Everything was his fault, he knew that, he accepted that, but her coming here as if only to give him some sort of false hope. well it made him furious! "Why are you here!"
Hitomi looked rather startled by this outburst, but she soon turned from looking uncertain to angry. As long as he was angry, she could be too. "Yeah, well why did you say those things back at mill!" she shouted back her hands now perched on her hips. "Well I-.I, meant-.I asked you questions first!" "Well my question is more important!" "No it isn't!" "Don't be so childish!" "I am NOT being-"
Van cut himself off. For one thing he was being childish. Secondly, this was going nowhere. He glared at her. His eyes almost instantly softened. She was so beautiful when mad..or at any other time.He closed his eyes and brought his hands to his temples. He was so easily angered. He might as well just leave, and he turned and began to do so.
"Did you mean it" He turned back to her once more, and saw that her face was downcast. "What you said in the mill I mean", she added, looking up at him. "Did you mean it?", her voice was low he almost didn't hear her and he saw her lower lip tremble.
"No", he heard his voice crack slightly and felt like kicking himself. "I mean, I meant the part about you staying with me!", he exclaimed quickly, saying it so fast he could hardly make the words out. Van realized they were both very close to each other..he could touch her if he reached out. Hitomi looked a bit taken aback by this answer, but to his amazement, she moved closer and hugged him.
He felt his insides burn from the small contact. He wanted to reach out and hold her, hug her back, but it was over before he got the chance. His breathing was fast now. It had barely been a hug; just a tight one-armed sort of squeeze. But it had made his heart beat faster then it ever had in his life. He was sure she could hear it, thumping against his chest. Worst of it was she was just smiling up at him looking gleeful.
He had never been so confused in his life. Her eyes were crinkled at the sides and shone, and she had the largest grin plastered across her face he had ever seen. He still looked down at her, utterly puzzled. What was this about? He felt like questioning her further, considering it might help him figure her out, but it seemed his vocal chords had stopped functioning properly. His breathing was at least slowing down, though his heart was still pumping madly.
"We should head back", she said calmly. Van managed to nod his head in agreement. Obviously Hitomi wasn't feeling the same as he was; she looked like at any given moment she would burst into cartwheels. Were all women going to be this weird, or was it just her? Because if they were, he was going to have a very hard time. As they started to walk back in the direction of Palas, Van began to truly wonder how Hitomi had followed him. It wasn't like he had run in a straight line; he had gone all over the place! Not to mention he had been lying beneath that tree for a good period of time. He knew she could have used her pendant, but that would have taken much more time than it had for her to discover him.
"Hitomi", he started, and she turned back to look up at him. A swirl of pink petals danced around them as he fixed her with an intense stare. "How did you find me so fast?" He would have also loved to know why she had been trying to find him in the first place, but it seemed he wasn't going to get that out of her. The blur of flowers breezed around them creating an almost sphere, locking the two together. Hitomi looked at first as if she was going to avoid the question like she had the others, but instead decided to confide in him her new power.
She repeated what had happened earlier, Van nodding his head. "I just followed that and it lead me to you", she finished evenly, the petals now floating away as if they had completed their job. Van looked at her, slightly perplexed. "You could.you can.sense me?" Hitomi nodded solemnly. "Can you sense anyone.else?" He secretly hoped she would say no, for him to have claim over some part of Hitomi.he didn't even care if Allen had-. Hitomi shook her head, "only you". Van beamed inside. He didn't know what that meant, but all he knew was this was only for him, Hitomi couldn't sense Allen or anyone else. This was something he had with her.
"Why do you think this is happening?" she asked as they began to walk again. "I don't know", he answered truthfully. "Could mean anything. I think it might be a sign of your power becoming stronger though" Hitomi sighed. "As if I need that". Van looked over at her and decided that pointing out to her that her power would greatly help end the war was useless. She didn't like being treated as a tool, and now that he thought of it, he wouldn't like it either. It dawned on him that he had been pushing her to do things, and see things she hadn't wanted to this whole time. All because of his, and other's, selfish wishes. How had he not seen this before? Isn't that why she had been angry with him back in Freid? And he had been too stubborn to see it this whole time. Van took a sharp intake of breath.
"Are you okay?", she asked looking over at him. "I'm.fine" Sweet, sweet Hitomi. When had she ever thought of herself. For the millionth time that day he felt like kicking himself. He loved her, and yet he had caused so much pain. He swore to himself that he would never ask her to use her power to help him in battle again. He didn't want to hurt her any more. He didn't want to force her to be the one he relied on. By some strange luck she was here with him and not with Allen, and he was going to take advantage of it. How could he not have seen this before?!
Van looked up and realized they were already back at the mill where Escaflowne humbly sat. They both walked together up to the entrance and stood in silence, looking anywhere but each other. "Isn't it funny", Hitomi whispered, staring at her feet while a blush crept into her cheeks. "How we've been through so much together, and yet we're still so awkward". She moved forwards so she was close to his ear. "I'm sorry", she said. He felt her lips brush the cheek where she had slapped him. Before Van knew what had happened, she was gone. He watched her receding form sprinting towards the castle, holding his cheek in wonder.
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"You're attempt failed!" "You said it was a fool-proof plan!" "We request an attack, battle is the only way. I knew from the start this silly application of a different kind of 'gravity' would not work"
Folken took in a deep breath, and unfazed held his head high, his face cold. "You are wrong. My operation was not a complete failure. There is still a slight separation of the Dragon and the girl. Greater than in the beginning"
"But not completely drawn apart like you had promised! We can not have any chances that they might move together once again!" The four generals began to exclaim their annoyance and displeasure once again. Folken sighed. He had been so close.so close.He had merely wanted to avoid battle.
"No attacks", Dornkirk's labored voice spoke from the blurred screen behind them. The generals seated around the table ceased their complaints and turned their attention to the aged leader of their country. "What is our plan of action then Dornkirk-sama?", Adelphos questioned, still looking impatient. "The girl and the Dragon are overlapping.My ideal future is wavering. If we install a permanent gravity we can still save it. We will take her away from him, bring her close to us. We won't have to worry about the Dragon then"
"How do you propose we accomplish this?", the barrel-chested General Herio of the Green Copper army asked. "Luck- Intensified soldiers", Dornkirk wheezed. "Who are these?" "Folken is in control of this operation. No other attacks. Not yet" With that Dornkirk's face vanished from the screen, and the generals rumbled in frustration. "Folken?! Again?!"
Folken closed his eyes and sighed.
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Eriya stood by the door watching the meeting being held. She cursed herself for causing Folken's humiliation. It was her fault the operation had failed, not his. How could she have slipped up, Folken-sama had been counting on her... but she just couldn't do it. It had gone smoothly through the beginning, only allowing one small mistake. She had wanted this for so long, to kiss Folken. For him to hold her in his arms. She and Naria had been in love with him for so long.
But during the kiss she had felt no love; no true romance. It meant nothing to Folken. She had known for long that he merely was kind to them, he didn't love them like they did him. But she was always able to pretend, hide the truth from herself. When she felt nothing, it was as if her whole girlish fantasy came crashing down. And it was this that made her lose her effort; she could no longer put her heart into what she was doing. That's where they had lost the girl from the Mystic Moon. She had let the girl out of the trance, their changing of fate, allowing her to run away.
Eriya moved away from the door. She would go spar with Naria. Try to explain to her what had really happened, try to make her older twin sister see. At this she turned and walked away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A/N: Come on, there was SOME fluff. Well, kind of. Not really. Anywho, I won't be updating for a while after this considering I will be gone for a month -._-* Well unless I write the fourth chapter really fast anyway (which I might actually do, but I wouldn't get your hopes up). Thanks!
Note: Naria is actually the older of the two twins, if you were wondering about me referring to her as the 'older twin sister' at the end there. Also sadly enough I know the four generals' names and what armies they lead, if you wondering about that reference too. So depressing that I know these things. Oh well.
Mystic Angel: Well, I kind of update every now and then, depends on what's happening with me. I also might just not really have the next chapter planned..anyway, I'm basically a random updater. Thanks for the praise!
SPIKECRAZI13: yay, I'll read it
Thanks to Lady Luna, Lady Laran, Kat-Tastrophe, Cyber1, Draco, ice, Youkai Yume, Maia Webmistress, raven, farhancharizard, aradow, SabineballZ, Sailor Centauri, Scarlet Pheonix, Crystal Night, and esca chick.
Disclaimer: Man, these things are going to become very annoying. I don't own Escaflowne so no suing and other such mean things *waves*
Through the Rainy Haze
Chapter# 3: After the Rain
His breath caught in his throat. He slowly pushed himself up off the ground, his eyes wide with shock. He slowly lifted his hand to swipe back the hair falling into his face as he gazed up at her. His mouth hung slightly open and he stayed staring for a long period of time, too overwhelmed with the unexpectedness of her being there. Van slowly forced himself out of this trance as his mind began to buzz with questions. What was she doing there? This was the most prominent and he found himself asking this in his head over and over again. Why-.how did she find him? Why was she even looking for him? And why on Gaea was she not with Allen?!
Van found himself feeling slightly bitter. Why did she always have to be so damn confusing? First she's kissing Allen, now she was here with him, not doing anything, just staring at him with those huge green eyes of hers. He felt like taking her by the shoulders and shaking her.
"What.are you doing here?" Even he could hear the bitterness in his voice. Hitomi opened her mouth but it seemed no words would come out. He decided to ask more questions, seeing as the first one was not being answered and his head felt like it would explode. "Why aren't you with Allen!" he cried, now fully standing up, his eyes blazing while raking his hands through his hair. Everything was his fault, he knew that, he accepted that, but her coming here as if only to give him some sort of false hope. well it made him furious! "Why are you here!"
Hitomi looked rather startled by this outburst, but she soon turned from looking uncertain to angry. As long as he was angry, she could be too. "Yeah, well why did you say those things back at mill!" she shouted back her hands now perched on her hips. "Well I-.I, meant-.I asked you questions first!" "Well my question is more important!" "No it isn't!" "Don't be so childish!" "I am NOT being-"
Van cut himself off. For one thing he was being childish. Secondly, this was going nowhere. He glared at her. His eyes almost instantly softened. She was so beautiful when mad..or at any other time.He closed his eyes and brought his hands to his temples. He was so easily angered. He might as well just leave, and he turned and began to do so.
"Did you mean it" He turned back to her once more, and saw that her face was downcast. "What you said in the mill I mean", she added, looking up at him. "Did you mean it?", her voice was low he almost didn't hear her and he saw her lower lip tremble.
"No", he heard his voice crack slightly and felt like kicking himself. "I mean, I meant the part about you staying with me!", he exclaimed quickly, saying it so fast he could hardly make the words out. Van realized they were both very close to each other..he could touch her if he reached out. Hitomi looked a bit taken aback by this answer, but to his amazement, she moved closer and hugged him.
He felt his insides burn from the small contact. He wanted to reach out and hold her, hug her back, but it was over before he got the chance. His breathing was fast now. It had barely been a hug; just a tight one-armed sort of squeeze. But it had made his heart beat faster then it ever had in his life. He was sure she could hear it, thumping against his chest. Worst of it was she was just smiling up at him looking gleeful.
He had never been so confused in his life. Her eyes were crinkled at the sides and shone, and she had the largest grin plastered across her face he had ever seen. He still looked down at her, utterly puzzled. What was this about? He felt like questioning her further, considering it might help him figure her out, but it seemed his vocal chords had stopped functioning properly. His breathing was at least slowing down, though his heart was still pumping madly.
"We should head back", she said calmly. Van managed to nod his head in agreement. Obviously Hitomi wasn't feeling the same as he was; she looked like at any given moment she would burst into cartwheels. Were all women going to be this weird, or was it just her? Because if they were, he was going to have a very hard time. As they started to walk back in the direction of Palas, Van began to truly wonder how Hitomi had followed him. It wasn't like he had run in a straight line; he had gone all over the place! Not to mention he had been lying beneath that tree for a good period of time. He knew she could have used her pendant, but that would have taken much more time than it had for her to discover him.
"Hitomi", he started, and she turned back to look up at him. A swirl of pink petals danced around them as he fixed her with an intense stare. "How did you find me so fast?" He would have also loved to know why she had been trying to find him in the first place, but it seemed he wasn't going to get that out of her. The blur of flowers breezed around them creating an almost sphere, locking the two together. Hitomi looked at first as if she was going to avoid the question like she had the others, but instead decided to confide in him her new power.
She repeated what had happened earlier, Van nodding his head. "I just followed that and it lead me to you", she finished evenly, the petals now floating away as if they had completed their job. Van looked at her, slightly perplexed. "You could.you can.sense me?" Hitomi nodded solemnly. "Can you sense anyone.else?" He secretly hoped she would say no, for him to have claim over some part of Hitomi.he didn't even care if Allen had-. Hitomi shook her head, "only you". Van beamed inside. He didn't know what that meant, but all he knew was this was only for him, Hitomi couldn't sense Allen or anyone else. This was something he had with her.
"Why do you think this is happening?" she asked as they began to walk again. "I don't know", he answered truthfully. "Could mean anything. I think it might be a sign of your power becoming stronger though" Hitomi sighed. "As if I need that". Van looked over at her and decided that pointing out to her that her power would greatly help end the war was useless. She didn't like being treated as a tool, and now that he thought of it, he wouldn't like it either. It dawned on him that he had been pushing her to do things, and see things she hadn't wanted to this whole time. All because of his, and other's, selfish wishes. How had he not seen this before? Isn't that why she had been angry with him back in Freid? And he had been too stubborn to see it this whole time. Van took a sharp intake of breath.
"Are you okay?", she asked looking over at him. "I'm.fine" Sweet, sweet Hitomi. When had she ever thought of herself. For the millionth time that day he felt like kicking himself. He loved her, and yet he had caused so much pain. He swore to himself that he would never ask her to use her power to help him in battle again. He didn't want to hurt her any more. He didn't want to force her to be the one he relied on. By some strange luck she was here with him and not with Allen, and he was going to take advantage of it. How could he not have seen this before?!
Van looked up and realized they were already back at the mill where Escaflowne humbly sat. They both walked together up to the entrance and stood in silence, looking anywhere but each other. "Isn't it funny", Hitomi whispered, staring at her feet while a blush crept into her cheeks. "How we've been through so much together, and yet we're still so awkward". She moved forwards so she was close to his ear. "I'm sorry", she said. He felt her lips brush the cheek where she had slapped him. Before Van knew what had happened, she was gone. He watched her receding form sprinting towards the castle, holding his cheek in wonder.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
"You're attempt failed!" "You said it was a fool-proof plan!" "We request an attack, battle is the only way. I knew from the start this silly application of a different kind of 'gravity' would not work"
Folken took in a deep breath, and unfazed held his head high, his face cold. "You are wrong. My operation was not a complete failure. There is still a slight separation of the Dragon and the girl. Greater than in the beginning"
"But not completely drawn apart like you had promised! We can not have any chances that they might move together once again!" The four generals began to exclaim their annoyance and displeasure once again. Folken sighed. He had been so close.so close.He had merely wanted to avoid battle.
"No attacks", Dornkirk's labored voice spoke from the blurred screen behind them. The generals seated around the table ceased their complaints and turned their attention to the aged leader of their country. "What is our plan of action then Dornkirk-sama?", Adelphos questioned, still looking impatient. "The girl and the Dragon are overlapping.My ideal future is wavering. If we install a permanent gravity we can still save it. We will take her away from him, bring her close to us. We won't have to worry about the Dragon then"
"How do you propose we accomplish this?", the barrel-chested General Herio of the Green Copper army asked. "Luck- Intensified soldiers", Dornkirk wheezed. "Who are these?" "Folken is in control of this operation. No other attacks. Not yet" With that Dornkirk's face vanished from the screen, and the generals rumbled in frustration. "Folken?! Again?!"
Folken closed his eyes and sighed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
Eriya stood by the door watching the meeting being held. She cursed herself for causing Folken's humiliation. It was her fault the operation had failed, not his. How could she have slipped up, Folken-sama had been counting on her... but she just couldn't do it. It had gone smoothly through the beginning, only allowing one small mistake. She had wanted this for so long, to kiss Folken. For him to hold her in his arms. She and Naria had been in love with him for so long.
But during the kiss she had felt no love; no true romance. It meant nothing to Folken. She had known for long that he merely was kind to them, he didn't love them like they did him. But she was always able to pretend, hide the truth from herself. When she felt nothing, it was as if her whole girlish fantasy came crashing down. And it was this that made her lose her effort; she could no longer put her heart into what she was doing. That's where they had lost the girl from the Mystic Moon. She had let the girl out of the trance, their changing of fate, allowing her to run away.
Eriya moved away from the door. She would go spar with Naria. Try to explain to her what had really happened, try to make her older twin sister see. At this she turned and walked away.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ A/N: Come on, there was SOME fluff. Well, kind of. Not really. Anywho, I won't be updating for a while after this considering I will be gone for a month -._-* Well unless I write the fourth chapter really fast anyway (which I might actually do, but I wouldn't get your hopes up). Thanks!
Note: Naria is actually the older of the two twins, if you were wondering about me referring to her as the 'older twin sister' at the end there. Also sadly enough I know the four generals' names and what armies they lead, if you wondering about that reference too. So depressing that I know these things. Oh well.