Chapter 4: A Pendant and a Distant Memory

Van looked at Hitomi with query eyes, her last statement still ringing in his ears. An accident that almost cost her life. What did it do to her? Was it the reason of her forgetting everything that had to do with the past she had here in Gaea?

His mind was beginning to work on the puzzle he was desperately trying to find an answer just moments ago, figuring all the possibilities, the what-ifs and what-could-have-beens. If only he could find a way to assure his speculations.

"Who are you?"

Hitomi's soft voice startled him. He was so lost in his thoughts, that Hitomi's question took a moment to register in his mind. Yet when it finally sunk in, for the second time, the hurt and pain that came along with those three words numbed his whole being.

"I am Van.....Van Fanel....." He waited, searching her eyes. Despite himself, he continued to hold on to something, hope or luck, that at the mention of his name a light would flicker in her memory. But all that went to nothing when all he received from her were just a faint nod and a blank expression, not even the minutest sign of recognition. He tried to show no emotion, though it's slowly tearing him apart.

Hitomi met his darkened eyes. 'Those eyes.....there's something in them..... Was it pain?' It passed almost too quickly she didn't have enough time to figure it out. 'Might have been my imagination.'

"I'm sorry if I've caused you discomfort or anything Mr. Fanel. I'm ok now."

"Think nothing of it. And just call me Van. No need for formalities. Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Van could see that she had been able to calm down a little from the agony her nightmare had brought her. Although her deep emerald eyes still reflect the anguish she felt.

"Yes. Thank you. You need not to worry," she assured him. "Oh, I forgot to give you my name. I'm Kanzaki. Hitomi Kanzaki."

"I know."

"You know? You know my name? How come? Have we met before?" She was certain she had never known this man. But on the other hand maybe she had, after all, her memory of the past wasn't really clear and detailed to her. That accident spared her life but had taken away every inch of her ability to remember the life she had before that fateful day. If not for the help, care and support of her family, she might not had gotten over the shock and been able to recuperate and continued living.

Bringing her thoughts back, she heard Van quietly answered her question, "Yes. We'd met a long time ago." She saw the far-away look in his face.

'Why does he seem so sad?.....I wonder what happened before to make him feel this way now.....Wait a minute, what do I care?' Hitomi silently wondered.

Only then Hitomi had the chance to examine him. She noticed he somehow shared a resemblance with the ethereal woman in her dream. He also had eyes with the deepest shade of brown, almost red like that of a mahogany, eyes that held so much depth in them that she couldn't dare fathom. His thick ebony locks falling to his nape and forehead gave him that boyish look, unruly and rumpled, though the rest of his face had some kind of roughness to it giving her the impression that he had experienced so many hardships even at a young age. He looked stern and uncompromising, though his deep eyes emitted such a warm feeling.

An enigma. Everything about him was like an enigma to her.

Moving down her unsolicited assessment of his physical traits, she blushed faintly when she became aware of his broad chest and shoulders that were hardly unnoticeable from his red shirt. But what caught her eye was the dangling pendant in his neck, its gleaming red stone and the unique design it had. It reminded her of something.....the one memory left engraved in her mind.....the only memory she had of her past.....

"Hitomi I want you to have something." A young Hitomi looked up at her grandmother who was sitting beside her in their old backyard while having their usual afternoon tea. The summer wind was blowing breezily playing with the chimes hanging by the window creating soft sounds, while the sun shone brightly in the sky.

"What is it Obaachan?" Her expectant face lit with childish excitement and sheer innocence.

Her grandmother handed her a necklace with a very rare kind of pendant adorned with a dark red precious stone shaped like a lone teardrop. Her eyes widened and gleamed with glee and amazement. "It's pretty Obaachan. Thank you."

"But promise me child you will take care of it, for it will be of great help to you when the time your fate is foretold. This pendant will be a significant part of your life and future. I know you don't fully understand what I'm saying to you right now Hitomi, but soon you will.....I might not be there anymore to guide you but I know you would be able to face it by yourself alone....." Seriousness laced her grandmother's tone as she spoke.

"I'll take good care of it. I promise Obaachan," replied Hitomi though like most children, she didn't really pay that much attention to her grandmother's words.....

"Forgive my prying, but may I ask how you came to possess a rare piece of jewelry such as that? You see the only thing I remember of my past before that horrible accident was the day my grandmother had given me an heirloom very similar to your necklace. I've already asked my mom about it and she told me I must have lost it somewhere. I hope I can find it though. It might help me regain the shattered pieces of my memory somehow," she said still in the midst of her reverie. She failed to notice how Van turned pale though a spark lit his mahogany eyes.

Van's heart was beginning to pound violently against his chest. He felt his spirits lifted up. "No, you didn't lose it Hitomi. This pendant was yours. You gave it to me." his voice was soft but full of certainty.

Hitomi gasped. "That's my pendant? Ho-how?" she asked, her mind was racing with questions.

"A memento..... You've given me this pendant as a memento when we parted a few years ago....."

"Memento?"

'What was his role in my past? What relation have I got with this man? Who is he in my life?' Hitomi was at a loss.....

"Mistress, that boy..... "

"Yes. My youngest son..... Van."

"He loves her.....the seeress....."

"And that love will help her through.....and Gaea as well....."

A/n: Sorry guys if it took me quite a while to update, been busy with school and stuff. But now that school's almost over for the summer, I've got all the time in the world! Yey! Anyhow, thanks to those who reviewed my past chapters. Please don't stop giving me your thoughts in the coming ones. Promise I'll do my best to provide u guys with a good story! Hopefully!

I'll be posting the next chapter not later this week. And by the way, to Paws who was the last to review my last chappie, Merle will be appearing very soon, might be in the next chapter too! Pls. don't forget to review! Ja ne!

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne