Thanks to Aya_chan, jossi-31, SilverPrincess3, Bozena, Youkai Yume, Lady
Luna, dark faerie2, NachtMusik, dilly-sammas luver, aradow, and the
original esca chick for reviewing.
elisa ang: Yeah I know, I can't stand the really really long drawn out ones either, but unfortunately it won't be happening in this chapter.or the next one.maybe the one after that, but I don't know. It's just Hitomi and Van have just managed to save their friendship, and Van being the nervous teen he is, will have some trouble making the next move. Also Hitomi gets a bit distracted soon and doesn't have time to sort out her own feelings and hasn't even realized she likes Van yet. Anyway that's why it's not going to happen too soon. Though of course I'll add in random fluff that adds nothing to the plot. Wow that was a long reply. Anonymous Ryuu Angel: Definitely! The twins are so interesting and they have so little screen time. I'll probably be adding in a bunch of things from their POV.
Kat-Tastrophe: I always look forward to your very in depth reviews ;)
Esca-lover: Thanks! Yes, I will be changing things around, they will happen very much like it did in the show, nothing's going to go totally off the wall, but it isn't just doing the same thing over just with them in a relationship. It will be very similar though.
Disclaimer: Oh, why don't I own Escaflowne!!!!! *hangs head in shame* -Ashes (er.burnt ashes I mean) Signed
Through the Rainy Haze
Chapter# 4: A Lucky Day for Vows
She let the excitement run through her as she glided across the floor. She twirled a bit before dropping weightlessly onto her bed. So finally the King's thoughts had been revealed, she mused. He didn't think she was a simple tool of power he could use. He had respect for her. Van wanted her close to him. She felt the relief from her discoveries wash over her. She had been so worried about what he thought of her, after today. After everything. Hitomi felt giddy, like she was floating on air. She began giggling and rolling on her bed. After a few minutes she stopped herself and tried to calm herself down. Why was she acting so strange, over Van especially? It was wonderful to know some one in this world cared for her, that she wasn't alone, but to be this excited? And she had kissed him hadn't she? Where had that come from! Not a true kiss like the one she'd shared with Allen but still there had been a degree of intimacy to it, surely. What had possessed her to do that? She drew her knees up close to her as a blush crept in. Would he think her strange for.doing that? Why had she in the first place. An apology would have been fine, right? Why was everything so confusing with him anyway! Or maybe it was just her she didn't understand, not him? Or maybe both? Oh she didn't get it, today had been too confusing for words. "I should just sleep on it", she said to herself. "But what truly are my feelings for Van-"
Her head snapped up. Some one was knocking on her door. Hitomi slowly got up and started moving across the room. "I really hope this isn't Allen", she muttered to herself. "That would be extremely awkward". "Hello?" She was knocked through the door back into her room again as Millerna came barging in. "Oh Hitomi, I hope you don't mind I came to see you, but I needed to get away, the number of maids just swarming all over me is too much, I need some time, well away. They seem to think everything is a complete disaster, and keep fitting and refitting the dress on me, fiddling with the veil, re-arranging flowers, the jewelry, and I don't think I can restrain them from lengthening the train one more time, it's a nightmare, and it's all because of Alice, she's so picky and insists nothing is right, you see she's the-" Hitomi couldn't help but stare as Millerna babbled faster than she'd ever heard her speak before while pacing around the room in frenzy. Her hands never seemed to stop moving; constantly twisting, and Hitomi could see the nervousness etched on her face. "And the make-up! Oh it never ends!" Millerna seemed to take a breath of air at this point, before turning around to meet Hitomi's gaze. Her violet eyes were large with worry.
"I'm so nervous Hitomi, I don't know what to do" "Everyone's nervous before their wedding Millerna. It's completely natural", Hitomi reassured lamely. She could only give her friend a blank stare as she was still in shock. "I know but there's so much resting on it, I suppose, I'm just not sure you know? If only I- Oh! Hitomi! You're soaking wet!!!", Millerna cried out. Hitomi looked down and realized she had completely forgotten to change and that she was still wearing a sopping wet fuku. Even her hair was dripping in her face. "We must get you dry and out of those clothes! Here-", Millerna shoved her behind the dressing curtain stationed in her room. She began going through Hitomi's closet to find a dress she herself most probably had put in there. "Did you get caught in the rain? I suppose so, I hope you weren't lost, that would have been terrible. You should have mentioned to me you'd just gotten in-" A dress and towel were thrown over the curtain and Hitomi proceeded to dry herself. She decided she wouldn't attempt to interrupt this conversation Millerna was having with herself. It was how she was getting out tension obviously, and she didn't want to come in the way of that. It was slightly alarming though, Millerna hardly ever talked this fast and non-stop. Hitomi reappeared from behind the curtain wearing the typical green Austurian gown Millerna had picked out for her. "Oh perfect, I love that green on you, now let's say you and I have dinner just the two of us up here, I don't feel like eating with Father and the others, do you? ", Millerna asked, grabbing Hitomi's hand between two of her own. Hitomi shook her head, though she wouldn't have been eating with them anyway. Her and the rest had been eating on their own, and she wasn't planning on dining with the man who tried to sell her off to geckos.
Her agreement to the Princess's plan released a little squeal of delight from Millerna. "Good, I'll be right back then, I have to get a maid to bring us some food". With that she dashed out of the room again leaving Hitomi to her thoughts. She's here because she wants my advice. What should I tell her to do? She no longer cared for Allen in that way, but was pushing Millerna towards him the best decision? Man, did she have a lot on her mind now. She didn't have time to wonder long though, for Millerna returned quickly along with a pudgy maid pushing an elegant food trolley. "Thank you. You may come for the dishes later" "Alrighty Millerna-hime", the maid replied and cantered off. "Now look, we can have a nice little picnic in here. We have some bread and cheese and wine, mmmmm, doesn't it look good?" Millerna began setting out the plates and Hitomi joined her on the floor to eat. "Isn't this cute? I haven't had a real picnic since I was ten mind you, it's unseemly I suppose. Isn't the cheese delicious? I was having trouble deciding what kinds we should have, and-" Hitomi simply nodded as Millerna inquired her about each bit of food and babbled, only stopping to eat. Millerna began pouring her some wine but Hitomi stopped her. "Not after last time", Hitomi said, some of the few words she's gotten in edgewise. Millerna giggled and continued her talk.
While Hitomi was nibbling on her last piece of cheese, Millerna discontinued her happy chatter and grabbed hold of her skirt apprehensively. "I'm very afraid Hitomi", she said quietly her façade gone. "I was so positive that Dryden would make me happy, but after.I'm just having some-" She bit her lip. "Doubts" Hitomi put down the cheese and moved forward so she was sitting on her knees. If only she hadn't mentioned anything about stupid Allen. "Millerna, I'm sure Dryden could make you very happy." Dryden. It hit Hitomi that he did care for Millerna very much. What did Allen feel for Millerna? Anything? What had he said earlier today, that Millerna meant nothing to him. "I know Hitomi, but couldn't you do a reading for me, I need to know what will happen if I marry, Dryden" "Um." "Please Hitomi" "I don't really do." She sighed. "Alright"
Millerna let out a sigh of relief as Hitomi got up and made her way over to her tarot cards she kept in her blazer. Returning to Millerna she began flipping them up. "Here, this means you will need to be patient in the relationship, but with work from both sides, things will be able to work out fine, there's always some bumps along the way, and here this-", Hitomi continued on with each card, spilling out the useless information. None of this was really of any true importance, just reassurance. She couldn't fully concentrate on what she was doing though. How could she dole out Millerna's future when she herself didn't even know what the right decision was for her friend-
Hitomi gasped. There it was again, the tower. Disaster....
She saw them, people falling from the tower, screaming. Everything was dark, and fierce, and cold. Lightning slicing it in half. The stones and brick cascading past her. Destruction. Then she wasn't there any more. Millerna.she saw Millerna and Dryden, together, they kissed.The moon sliding over the sun. Darkness. Then they appeared in the darkness, flying from above. The two Giants coming down, destroying. She saw Escaflowne trying to stop them, attack them, but it was going to fail, it was two against one, and they had the luck. "Van!!" she cried, but he didn't seem to hear her. "VAN!" She needed to reach Van. He needed her. She ran, but now held two cards in her hand. Disaster and Fortune. Luck. She needed to reach Van, he needed help, luck. There was a flash of Palas in chaos. She couldn't run any more. The metal claws circling around lifting her away, away from the ground, away from Van. She screamed.
"The risk is great, even the slightest mistake." "We'll be fine Folken-sama, I know we will" "We're lucky"
Hitomi blinked drearily as she tried to sit up. Sunlight beamed through uncovered windows causing her to shade her eyes. She was in her bed, in the castle. That.vision, it had been so terrifying.what had happened. "Rise and shine young lady! Hope you're feeling better this morning than you were last night. Everyone should be in high spirits for the Princess's wedding!" Hitomi found herself suddenly assaulted by the large, pudgy serving woman from the night before. "Out of bed, out of bed, I have to clean this room now don't I? I want to get finished early. Lovely morning, it'll be a beautiful day for the wedding" "Morning?" Hitomi grumbled as she was pulled out of bed. "Yes indeed, very late in the morning, up you get" "Er, what happened...Where's Millerna?" "You passed out while speaking with the Princess, you know all big-eyes and strange. The Princess has so much to do; you think she'd stay here all night? No, I was sent to watch". The woman began smoothing out Hitomi's dress and running a comb through her hair, then pushed her out through the door. "I must clean, I'm already running late waiting for you to wake up, you go have lunch now alright?" Hitomi nodded numbly as the door was shut in her face. Today was the wedding then. ".Lunch?"
Everything and everyone was so loud and busy. It seemed like the whole of Palas was buzzing with excitement. Everyone seemed to be trying to get as much work done now as they could so they might catch a glimpse of the Royal wedding. Van thought he was going to get run over standing in the market place. "Vaaaaaan-sama, let's get out of here, it's way to crowded", Merle complained clutching his arm. "You're the one who suggested we come Merle", he replied, smiling a bit. "Yeah, because I wanted to see what was going on and eat. But I've changed my mind; we'll watch it from far away. I'd rather not see well and not be crushed". Van nodded. He didn't like it here either, and he doubted Millerna and Dryden were really counting on them to be front line for the ceremony. As they were turning to leave though, he saw a green dress from the corner of his eye that caught his attention. "Hitomi!" he called. She seemed to be walking aimlessly around, but luckily enough heard his voice in the crowd. "Oh, Van", she said, walking towards them. Van smiled, she seemed happy to see them. He felt Merle stir beside him. "Why did you call HER over!" she muttered, tail straight and fluffed out.
"Hey what are you two doing down here?" "Looking around", Van answered. He loved her in that gown. The bodice was tight and green, and the skirt white and long. There was an Austurian belt about her waist with two embroidered bars hanging down either side of her. He had to be smooth though, no seeming awkward from yesterday. "WE were just moving away from the crowds though weren't we?" Merle said her nails digging into his arm looking up at him expectantly. "Do you want to come with us Hitomi?" he asked ignoring Merle. "WHAT?!" "Sure, I'd love to"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Were they going to talk about yesterday, or no? Just pretend it never happened? That seemed to be the case anyway. Van sat across from her on the floor inside in the hangar, both drinking tea, while Merle fiddled and hung around the two. The conversation they had was amiable enough but Van sensed Hitomi wasn't as cheerful as she tried to sound. She seemed worried in fact, and he was curious as to why. But he couldn't ask about anything in front of Merle, who wasn't about to leave them alone for a second, so it didn't seem he'd find out soon. He took notice that Merle and Hitomi had begun small bickering once again.
"I got lost!" "How did you get lost? So stupid! Made Van-sama go out into the rain!" "Well sorrrrry!" "Humph" Van smiled. They'd never get along. Suddenly Merle let out an agitated cry and groped at her neck. "What's wrong Merle?" Hitomi asked, surprised. "My necklace! It's gone", she pointed to her vacant throat. Van saw she was right; the clangy red pendant Merle normally wore was not hanging around her neck. "Ooooooh! I know where it probably fell off!" Merle cried and bounded down the ladder and out of the hangar. "That was fast", Hitomi murmured still starring after Merle's retreating form. Van put his teacup don on the floor. Who would have thought Merle would give them the perfect excuse to be alone? He might find out what was on her mind now. "Hitomi, is something bothering you?" She looked up from her tea, eyeing him questionably. "I mean you seem a bit tense". He watched her sigh. "Millerna is so unsure about the marriage, she doesn't know if she'll be happy, or if it's the right decision. It's my fault. I shouldn't have said anything yesterday. Now I don't know what to tell her when she asks me what to do. She wants me to tell her her future, but I don't even know if that's." she let her sentence drift off as she tightened her hold around the tea cup.
She was worried about Millerna then. And the pressure Millerna was putting on her, obviously. That would explain her anxiety. "Is there anything else?" he asked slowly. He felt like there might be something else, and if he was going to do a good job of consoling her he needed to know everything. He was going to show her he truly cared. He owed it to her. She seemed to pause a moment before continuing. "She asked me for a reading last night, and I passed out before finishing it. I had a .vision" "A vision?" Van said, leaning towards her. "What-" No, he wouldn't pry. She would say more if she wanted to. She was usually very upset after these; he didn't want to push her. She sighed again. "It was so vague, but so.frightening.I think something bad will happen at the wedding, but I'm not sure, it was so." Her eyes then seemed to go distant and blank as if it was all coming back to her. Van moved closer to her and moved the teacup from her hands. He saw now how fragile she was at this moment, the vision must have been worse than usual. He felt himself becoming braver, and took her hand in his. "I don't see why anything should happen at the wedding, but if something does, I'll be ready. Don't worry" He looked her straight in the eyes as she came out of her small trance.
"Oh Van!" Hitomi murmured and threw her arms around his neck. This caught Van off guard, but he slowly let his arms snake around her back as she buried her head in his shoulder. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, surely she could hear it? He heard her saying things softly, her voice muffled. "Had to reach you.I couldn't." He held her tighter. She was obviously in some kind of after shock; she seemed so frail, so weak. "You'll be able to reach me." He felt like he wasn't doing the best job of comforting her. She seemed so distressed.Allen probably could have done a better job. He would have made her fears vanish in an instant. No, he had to stop thinking that way. Gods, how good it felt to have her in his arms. He'd never embraced her for this long before. Van could feel the heat rise to his face. Hitomi pulled back a little from him to look up. "Sorry, it's just the memory of it came back." "It's alright" He didn't know what struck him then, but he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and held his lips there. He heard Hitomi take a sharp intake of breath, but she didn't pull away or stiffen to the touch. Where had all this courage come from? Van smiled against her skin. All he knew was she wasn't resisting. "Hitomi, I, I-"
"Helloooo! I'm baaaaack!" Hitomi and Van sprang away from each other like frightened rabbits as Merle pounced unto the platform. "Found it!" she cried happily, holding up the pendant proudly. "Oh Hitomi, Millerna wants to see you. Probably before the wedding" Van saw her eyes widen slightly, but then nodded her head. "Alright then, I guess I should go see her". With a quick glance at Van she started descending the ladder. Did she know how important it was to him that she had so much trust in him?
Hitomi felt fear rise in her. This marriage could end up being worse than just Millerna not being happy with her husband. She just could feel something would happen.her vision, maybe, but something was going to go wrong. What could she possibly tell Millerna? She dreaded this reading, it would surely only end in another vision, another terrible future. Van had eased her fear while she had been with him, somehow him being near made her calmer, but now that she was away from that comfort she wasn't sure about this wedding at all. She walked up onto the balcony where a serving woman had said Millerna would meet her and leaned over the railing. She hoped Millerna wouldn't even ask for a reading, just asked her to come so she could see a friend's face before she had to get ready, to calm her jitters. She wished, but she knew what Millerna would ask her. Hitomi sighed and looked below. She instantly spotted Allen decked out in his blue uniform as always, chatting up a guard. Right, there was her other problem. Things with Allen would start to get a bit awkward, even strange. Though she hoped they could overcome that, Allen was very nice as a friend. She buried her face in her arm. She didn't want to think about any of this right now.
"Hitomi" She turned from the balcony to see Millerna, her face downcast. "Hey, Merle said you wanted to see me?" "Hitomi.I'm still worried.about the wedding" "Oh Millerna, it isn't like it's a Las Vegas wedding or anything" "Las Vegas?" "You just have wedding jitters" "Wedding jitters?" "Besides, I can't do readings any more, I just don't want to find out any more weird futures" Millerna's eyes were large and starred at Hitomi hard and pleadingly. "Please Hitomi" She sighed. "Fine". She'd already tried once before, nothing could have changed. And Millerna would not let her go. They moved inside to a table. Millerna sat across from her as Hitomi began dealing out the cards. Everything seemed the same, like yesterday. Little bumps, but nothing big. She thought she saw something to do with Allen, but it was too vague for her to place any real concern on it. She cast all thoughts away as she placed each card down in the right order following the meanings. She was about to suggest the reading be over after the next card, but she looked down into her hand and felt the deck slip away from her hand and fall to the floor. There it was again, the tower, disaster, but she'd drawn two cards at once, her hand not being careful enough, and had picked up the card of good fortune along with it. What could this mean? Why both at the same time? A good marriage, but a disaster? She could feel herself slipping away, the room and the table melting away.
Van, she had to reach Van, it was the only way, but where was he? She needed to find him, fast, she could feel him close, sense him.There was something after her, wanted her, it would solve everything if only she'd give herself up, no Van, she had to find him.she was vaguely aware of running, searching.but then the metal claws suddenly gripped around her, tearing her away from the solidity, from Van, she couldn't sense him, where had he-
"Hitomi! Hitomi!" Millerna was shaking her, her eyes wide with panic. "It's alright Millerna, I'm fine", she whispered, knowing she had not sounded convincing. The room swept back into view. "Are you sure? You look really pale", Millerna was still holding one of her arms. "I'm fine. I'm sure" "I think we'll stop now" "You should go get ready for the wedding. It's going to start soon" "Yes.right" Millerna looking back worriedly at Hitomi as she left the room. It had been more of a dream than vision, nothing really there, or real, but you never questioned the strangeness of it while you were there, only after. Her hands gripped the table so that her knuckles were white and beneath her the cards spilled all over the floor. Only two of them were faced upwards.
A/N: Alrighty, my chapters are actually getting to be a decent length! It's like J.K. Rowling, her fourth book suddenly got very large :D (well Harry Potter had to come up SOME time in one of these) Anyway, basically next chapter is going to follow along with what happened in the actual episode, but DIFFERENTLY (dun dun dun). More intense I'm planning anyway. And I did add in fluff for those who asked for it *puffs chest out proudly*. And Millerna was pretty out of character for the first part I'll admit, but that was to show she was just really at a loose end. Not much to say really, just hope you enjoyed! And thanks to my beta Cat, who always gives me good suggestions and corrects the spelling mistakes :D
elisa ang: Yeah I know, I can't stand the really really long drawn out ones either, but unfortunately it won't be happening in this chapter.or the next one.maybe the one after that, but I don't know. It's just Hitomi and Van have just managed to save their friendship, and Van being the nervous teen he is, will have some trouble making the next move. Also Hitomi gets a bit distracted soon and doesn't have time to sort out her own feelings and hasn't even realized she likes Van yet. Anyway that's why it's not going to happen too soon. Though of course I'll add in random fluff that adds nothing to the plot. Wow that was a long reply. Anonymous Ryuu Angel: Definitely! The twins are so interesting and they have so little screen time. I'll probably be adding in a bunch of things from their POV.
Kat-Tastrophe: I always look forward to your very in depth reviews ;)
Esca-lover: Thanks! Yes, I will be changing things around, they will happen very much like it did in the show, nothing's going to go totally off the wall, but it isn't just doing the same thing over just with them in a relationship. It will be very similar though.
Disclaimer: Oh, why don't I own Escaflowne!!!!! *hangs head in shame* -Ashes (er.burnt ashes I mean) Signed
Through the Rainy Haze
Chapter# 4: A Lucky Day for Vows
She let the excitement run through her as she glided across the floor. She twirled a bit before dropping weightlessly onto her bed. So finally the King's thoughts had been revealed, she mused. He didn't think she was a simple tool of power he could use. He had respect for her. Van wanted her close to him. She felt the relief from her discoveries wash over her. She had been so worried about what he thought of her, after today. After everything. Hitomi felt giddy, like she was floating on air. She began giggling and rolling on her bed. After a few minutes she stopped herself and tried to calm herself down. Why was she acting so strange, over Van especially? It was wonderful to know some one in this world cared for her, that she wasn't alone, but to be this excited? And she had kissed him hadn't she? Where had that come from! Not a true kiss like the one she'd shared with Allen but still there had been a degree of intimacy to it, surely. What had possessed her to do that? She drew her knees up close to her as a blush crept in. Would he think her strange for.doing that? Why had she in the first place. An apology would have been fine, right? Why was everything so confusing with him anyway! Or maybe it was just her she didn't understand, not him? Or maybe both? Oh she didn't get it, today had been too confusing for words. "I should just sleep on it", she said to herself. "But what truly are my feelings for Van-"
Her head snapped up. Some one was knocking on her door. Hitomi slowly got up and started moving across the room. "I really hope this isn't Allen", she muttered to herself. "That would be extremely awkward". "Hello?" She was knocked through the door back into her room again as Millerna came barging in. "Oh Hitomi, I hope you don't mind I came to see you, but I needed to get away, the number of maids just swarming all over me is too much, I need some time, well away. They seem to think everything is a complete disaster, and keep fitting and refitting the dress on me, fiddling with the veil, re-arranging flowers, the jewelry, and I don't think I can restrain them from lengthening the train one more time, it's a nightmare, and it's all because of Alice, she's so picky and insists nothing is right, you see she's the-" Hitomi couldn't help but stare as Millerna babbled faster than she'd ever heard her speak before while pacing around the room in frenzy. Her hands never seemed to stop moving; constantly twisting, and Hitomi could see the nervousness etched on her face. "And the make-up! Oh it never ends!" Millerna seemed to take a breath of air at this point, before turning around to meet Hitomi's gaze. Her violet eyes were large with worry.
"I'm so nervous Hitomi, I don't know what to do" "Everyone's nervous before their wedding Millerna. It's completely natural", Hitomi reassured lamely. She could only give her friend a blank stare as she was still in shock. "I know but there's so much resting on it, I suppose, I'm just not sure you know? If only I- Oh! Hitomi! You're soaking wet!!!", Millerna cried out. Hitomi looked down and realized she had completely forgotten to change and that she was still wearing a sopping wet fuku. Even her hair was dripping in her face. "We must get you dry and out of those clothes! Here-", Millerna shoved her behind the dressing curtain stationed in her room. She began going through Hitomi's closet to find a dress she herself most probably had put in there. "Did you get caught in the rain? I suppose so, I hope you weren't lost, that would have been terrible. You should have mentioned to me you'd just gotten in-" A dress and towel were thrown over the curtain and Hitomi proceeded to dry herself. She decided she wouldn't attempt to interrupt this conversation Millerna was having with herself. It was how she was getting out tension obviously, and she didn't want to come in the way of that. It was slightly alarming though, Millerna hardly ever talked this fast and non-stop. Hitomi reappeared from behind the curtain wearing the typical green Austurian gown Millerna had picked out for her. "Oh perfect, I love that green on you, now let's say you and I have dinner just the two of us up here, I don't feel like eating with Father and the others, do you? ", Millerna asked, grabbing Hitomi's hand between two of her own. Hitomi shook her head, though she wouldn't have been eating with them anyway. Her and the rest had been eating on their own, and she wasn't planning on dining with the man who tried to sell her off to geckos.
Her agreement to the Princess's plan released a little squeal of delight from Millerna. "Good, I'll be right back then, I have to get a maid to bring us some food". With that she dashed out of the room again leaving Hitomi to her thoughts. She's here because she wants my advice. What should I tell her to do? She no longer cared for Allen in that way, but was pushing Millerna towards him the best decision? Man, did she have a lot on her mind now. She didn't have time to wonder long though, for Millerna returned quickly along with a pudgy maid pushing an elegant food trolley. "Thank you. You may come for the dishes later" "Alrighty Millerna-hime", the maid replied and cantered off. "Now look, we can have a nice little picnic in here. We have some bread and cheese and wine, mmmmm, doesn't it look good?" Millerna began setting out the plates and Hitomi joined her on the floor to eat. "Isn't this cute? I haven't had a real picnic since I was ten mind you, it's unseemly I suppose. Isn't the cheese delicious? I was having trouble deciding what kinds we should have, and-" Hitomi simply nodded as Millerna inquired her about each bit of food and babbled, only stopping to eat. Millerna began pouring her some wine but Hitomi stopped her. "Not after last time", Hitomi said, some of the few words she's gotten in edgewise. Millerna giggled and continued her talk.
While Hitomi was nibbling on her last piece of cheese, Millerna discontinued her happy chatter and grabbed hold of her skirt apprehensively. "I'm very afraid Hitomi", she said quietly her façade gone. "I was so positive that Dryden would make me happy, but after.I'm just having some-" She bit her lip. "Doubts" Hitomi put down the cheese and moved forward so she was sitting on her knees. If only she hadn't mentioned anything about stupid Allen. "Millerna, I'm sure Dryden could make you very happy." Dryden. It hit Hitomi that he did care for Millerna very much. What did Allen feel for Millerna? Anything? What had he said earlier today, that Millerna meant nothing to him. "I know Hitomi, but couldn't you do a reading for me, I need to know what will happen if I marry, Dryden" "Um." "Please Hitomi" "I don't really do." She sighed. "Alright"
Millerna let out a sigh of relief as Hitomi got up and made her way over to her tarot cards she kept in her blazer. Returning to Millerna she began flipping them up. "Here, this means you will need to be patient in the relationship, but with work from both sides, things will be able to work out fine, there's always some bumps along the way, and here this-", Hitomi continued on with each card, spilling out the useless information. None of this was really of any true importance, just reassurance. She couldn't fully concentrate on what she was doing though. How could she dole out Millerna's future when she herself didn't even know what the right decision was for her friend-
Hitomi gasped. There it was again, the tower. Disaster....
She saw them, people falling from the tower, screaming. Everything was dark, and fierce, and cold. Lightning slicing it in half. The stones and brick cascading past her. Destruction. Then she wasn't there any more. Millerna.she saw Millerna and Dryden, together, they kissed.The moon sliding over the sun. Darkness. Then they appeared in the darkness, flying from above. The two Giants coming down, destroying. She saw Escaflowne trying to stop them, attack them, but it was going to fail, it was two against one, and they had the luck. "Van!!" she cried, but he didn't seem to hear her. "VAN!" She needed to reach Van. He needed her. She ran, but now held two cards in her hand. Disaster and Fortune. Luck. She needed to reach Van, he needed help, luck. There was a flash of Palas in chaos. She couldn't run any more. The metal claws circling around lifting her away, away from the ground, away from Van. She screamed.
"The risk is great, even the slightest mistake." "We'll be fine Folken-sama, I know we will" "We're lucky"
Hitomi blinked drearily as she tried to sit up. Sunlight beamed through uncovered windows causing her to shade her eyes. She was in her bed, in the castle. That.vision, it had been so terrifying.what had happened. "Rise and shine young lady! Hope you're feeling better this morning than you were last night. Everyone should be in high spirits for the Princess's wedding!" Hitomi found herself suddenly assaulted by the large, pudgy serving woman from the night before. "Out of bed, out of bed, I have to clean this room now don't I? I want to get finished early. Lovely morning, it'll be a beautiful day for the wedding" "Morning?" Hitomi grumbled as she was pulled out of bed. "Yes indeed, very late in the morning, up you get" "Er, what happened...Where's Millerna?" "You passed out while speaking with the Princess, you know all big-eyes and strange. The Princess has so much to do; you think she'd stay here all night? No, I was sent to watch". The woman began smoothing out Hitomi's dress and running a comb through her hair, then pushed her out through the door. "I must clean, I'm already running late waiting for you to wake up, you go have lunch now alright?" Hitomi nodded numbly as the door was shut in her face. Today was the wedding then. ".Lunch?"
Everything and everyone was so loud and busy. It seemed like the whole of Palas was buzzing with excitement. Everyone seemed to be trying to get as much work done now as they could so they might catch a glimpse of the Royal wedding. Van thought he was going to get run over standing in the market place. "Vaaaaaan-sama, let's get out of here, it's way to crowded", Merle complained clutching his arm. "You're the one who suggested we come Merle", he replied, smiling a bit. "Yeah, because I wanted to see what was going on and eat. But I've changed my mind; we'll watch it from far away. I'd rather not see well and not be crushed". Van nodded. He didn't like it here either, and he doubted Millerna and Dryden were really counting on them to be front line for the ceremony. As they were turning to leave though, he saw a green dress from the corner of his eye that caught his attention. "Hitomi!" he called. She seemed to be walking aimlessly around, but luckily enough heard his voice in the crowd. "Oh, Van", she said, walking towards them. Van smiled, she seemed happy to see them. He felt Merle stir beside him. "Why did you call HER over!" she muttered, tail straight and fluffed out.
"Hey what are you two doing down here?" "Looking around", Van answered. He loved her in that gown. The bodice was tight and green, and the skirt white and long. There was an Austurian belt about her waist with two embroidered bars hanging down either side of her. He had to be smooth though, no seeming awkward from yesterday. "WE were just moving away from the crowds though weren't we?" Merle said her nails digging into his arm looking up at him expectantly. "Do you want to come with us Hitomi?" he asked ignoring Merle. "WHAT?!" "Sure, I'd love to"
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Were they going to talk about yesterday, or no? Just pretend it never happened? That seemed to be the case anyway. Van sat across from her on the floor inside in the hangar, both drinking tea, while Merle fiddled and hung around the two. The conversation they had was amiable enough but Van sensed Hitomi wasn't as cheerful as she tried to sound. She seemed worried in fact, and he was curious as to why. But he couldn't ask about anything in front of Merle, who wasn't about to leave them alone for a second, so it didn't seem he'd find out soon. He took notice that Merle and Hitomi had begun small bickering once again.
"I got lost!" "How did you get lost? So stupid! Made Van-sama go out into the rain!" "Well sorrrrry!" "Humph" Van smiled. They'd never get along. Suddenly Merle let out an agitated cry and groped at her neck. "What's wrong Merle?" Hitomi asked, surprised. "My necklace! It's gone", she pointed to her vacant throat. Van saw she was right; the clangy red pendant Merle normally wore was not hanging around her neck. "Ooooooh! I know where it probably fell off!" Merle cried and bounded down the ladder and out of the hangar. "That was fast", Hitomi murmured still starring after Merle's retreating form. Van put his teacup don on the floor. Who would have thought Merle would give them the perfect excuse to be alone? He might find out what was on her mind now. "Hitomi, is something bothering you?" She looked up from her tea, eyeing him questionably. "I mean you seem a bit tense". He watched her sigh. "Millerna is so unsure about the marriage, she doesn't know if she'll be happy, or if it's the right decision. It's my fault. I shouldn't have said anything yesterday. Now I don't know what to tell her when she asks me what to do. She wants me to tell her her future, but I don't even know if that's." she let her sentence drift off as she tightened her hold around the tea cup.
She was worried about Millerna then. And the pressure Millerna was putting on her, obviously. That would explain her anxiety. "Is there anything else?" he asked slowly. He felt like there might be something else, and if he was going to do a good job of consoling her he needed to know everything. He was going to show her he truly cared. He owed it to her. She seemed to pause a moment before continuing. "She asked me for a reading last night, and I passed out before finishing it. I had a .vision" "A vision?" Van said, leaning towards her. "What-" No, he wouldn't pry. She would say more if she wanted to. She was usually very upset after these; he didn't want to push her. She sighed again. "It was so vague, but so.frightening.I think something bad will happen at the wedding, but I'm not sure, it was so." Her eyes then seemed to go distant and blank as if it was all coming back to her. Van moved closer to her and moved the teacup from her hands. He saw now how fragile she was at this moment, the vision must have been worse than usual. He felt himself becoming braver, and took her hand in his. "I don't see why anything should happen at the wedding, but if something does, I'll be ready. Don't worry" He looked her straight in the eyes as she came out of her small trance.
"Oh Van!" Hitomi murmured and threw her arms around his neck. This caught Van off guard, but he slowly let his arms snake around her back as she buried her head in his shoulder. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, surely she could hear it? He heard her saying things softly, her voice muffled. "Had to reach you.I couldn't." He held her tighter. She was obviously in some kind of after shock; she seemed so frail, so weak. "You'll be able to reach me." He felt like he wasn't doing the best job of comforting her. She seemed so distressed.Allen probably could have done a better job. He would have made her fears vanish in an instant. No, he had to stop thinking that way. Gods, how good it felt to have her in his arms. He'd never embraced her for this long before. Van could feel the heat rise to his face. Hitomi pulled back a little from him to look up. "Sorry, it's just the memory of it came back." "It's alright" He didn't know what struck him then, but he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead and held his lips there. He heard Hitomi take a sharp intake of breath, but she didn't pull away or stiffen to the touch. Where had all this courage come from? Van smiled against her skin. All he knew was she wasn't resisting. "Hitomi, I, I-"
"Helloooo! I'm baaaaack!" Hitomi and Van sprang away from each other like frightened rabbits as Merle pounced unto the platform. "Found it!" she cried happily, holding up the pendant proudly. "Oh Hitomi, Millerna wants to see you. Probably before the wedding" Van saw her eyes widen slightly, but then nodded her head. "Alright then, I guess I should go see her". With a quick glance at Van she started descending the ladder. Did she know how important it was to him that she had so much trust in him?
Hitomi felt fear rise in her. This marriage could end up being worse than just Millerna not being happy with her husband. She just could feel something would happen.her vision, maybe, but something was going to go wrong. What could she possibly tell Millerna? She dreaded this reading, it would surely only end in another vision, another terrible future. Van had eased her fear while she had been with him, somehow him being near made her calmer, but now that she was away from that comfort she wasn't sure about this wedding at all. She walked up onto the balcony where a serving woman had said Millerna would meet her and leaned over the railing. She hoped Millerna wouldn't even ask for a reading, just asked her to come so she could see a friend's face before she had to get ready, to calm her jitters. She wished, but she knew what Millerna would ask her. Hitomi sighed and looked below. She instantly spotted Allen decked out in his blue uniform as always, chatting up a guard. Right, there was her other problem. Things with Allen would start to get a bit awkward, even strange. Though she hoped they could overcome that, Allen was very nice as a friend. She buried her face in her arm. She didn't want to think about any of this right now.
"Hitomi" She turned from the balcony to see Millerna, her face downcast. "Hey, Merle said you wanted to see me?" "Hitomi.I'm still worried.about the wedding" "Oh Millerna, it isn't like it's a Las Vegas wedding or anything" "Las Vegas?" "You just have wedding jitters" "Wedding jitters?" "Besides, I can't do readings any more, I just don't want to find out any more weird futures" Millerna's eyes were large and starred at Hitomi hard and pleadingly. "Please Hitomi" She sighed. "Fine". She'd already tried once before, nothing could have changed. And Millerna would not let her go. They moved inside to a table. Millerna sat across from her as Hitomi began dealing out the cards. Everything seemed the same, like yesterday. Little bumps, but nothing big. She thought she saw something to do with Allen, but it was too vague for her to place any real concern on it. She cast all thoughts away as she placed each card down in the right order following the meanings. She was about to suggest the reading be over after the next card, but she looked down into her hand and felt the deck slip away from her hand and fall to the floor. There it was again, the tower, disaster, but she'd drawn two cards at once, her hand not being careful enough, and had picked up the card of good fortune along with it. What could this mean? Why both at the same time? A good marriage, but a disaster? She could feel herself slipping away, the room and the table melting away.
Van, she had to reach Van, it was the only way, but where was he? She needed to find him, fast, she could feel him close, sense him.There was something after her, wanted her, it would solve everything if only she'd give herself up, no Van, she had to find him.she was vaguely aware of running, searching.but then the metal claws suddenly gripped around her, tearing her away from the solidity, from Van, she couldn't sense him, where had he-
"Hitomi! Hitomi!" Millerna was shaking her, her eyes wide with panic. "It's alright Millerna, I'm fine", she whispered, knowing she had not sounded convincing. The room swept back into view. "Are you sure? You look really pale", Millerna was still holding one of her arms. "I'm fine. I'm sure" "I think we'll stop now" "You should go get ready for the wedding. It's going to start soon" "Yes.right" Millerna looking back worriedly at Hitomi as she left the room. It had been more of a dream than vision, nothing really there, or real, but you never questioned the strangeness of it while you were there, only after. Her hands gripped the table so that her knuckles were white and beneath her the cards spilled all over the floor. Only two of them were faced upwards.
A/N: Alrighty, my chapters are actually getting to be a decent length! It's like J.K. Rowling, her fourth book suddenly got very large :D (well Harry Potter had to come up SOME time in one of these) Anyway, basically next chapter is going to follow along with what happened in the actual episode, but DIFFERENTLY (dun dun dun). More intense I'm planning anyway. And I did add in fluff for those who asked for it *puffs chest out proudly*. And Millerna was pretty out of character for the first part I'll admit, but that was to show she was just really at a loose end. Not much to say really, just hope you enjoyed! And thanks to my beta Cat, who always gives me good suggestions and corrects the spelling mistakes :D