Congratulations to Ungoddess for being the first person to review chapter 6! We're going to have to start having competitions to see who can review first 0_o that would be fun! Thanks also for the proper spelling of Metallica, hurray! You also happened to guess a lot of what I was writing 0_o Ms Psychic!
Anyway, new chapter, hurray! I've got situations in my head of what I want to happen but I'm not sure how to get there yet. I'll just write I think and see how it goes! You will tell me if I'm ruining this fic won't you? Fluff? No idea what it is!! Wait, wait, yes I do, someone explained it to me! Thank you! I'm not sure, it depends what happens...
About tarot cards Axel, that is so cool about the meanings. Yeah I really didn't know anything about what I was reading but I was trying to copy the style of 'Hitomi's Tarot Reading' from the show. I always wanted to tarot read but I don't have time to learn all the meanings at the moment. Thank you for your info though.
Ack, I'm pretty much stuck...how would you guys deal with a really upsetting end to the story? Because I had a thought to do something but then it would really make everyone sad so I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it...So happy ending or sad and longing ending? Or both? Anyway, did I mention I had a lot of ideas for this fic from a dream I had? For some reason it was my dream which then mixed in with Escaflowne and I dreamt about both! And then a couple of days I had another dream with Escaflowne 0_o
Hey, I just heard the most perfect song for Van and Hitomi (well it seems that way) it's called 'Ai no Uta' and it's by a band called Every Little Thing and it just seems like a V/H song for some reason, it means 'love song' doesn't it? I didn't like it at first then it just grew on my and it just hit me how much this makes me think of Van and Hitomi...I'm listening to Ayumi Hamasaki cyber trance stuff at the moment...I feel like writing something violent.
My Maaya Sakamoto page hasn't been updated for a while, the host has been messing up and so it won't let me update...BUT I HAVE SO MUCH NEWS! Hmm, this section is like a big long rant, really?
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne!
* * *
It was soon after breakfast when Mamoru caught up to her on the way to the communal baths, apparently he'd been having a tour of the castle with some sentries he'd made friends with. He looked out of breath and someone had given him some clothes, a cross between Van's and Allen's, stylish yet functional Hitomi noted. His face had bruising and a black eye on the exact same side where Van's was, a prize of the punch up.
"My head's spinning, Hitomi!" he gushed, he looked like he was spinning too "I've been told so much about this place and it's just...just...incredible. I feel like it ought to be impossible and yet here I am! Standing here!"
Hitomi nodded, she'd felt like that too.
"So I saw the city and stables and where they're building the Castle upwards and where they're quarrying the stone, it's like a history textbook mixed with science fiction! I've been up since dawn and I'm still buzzing," Mamoru stopped for breath and then said cautiously "So...how'd he take it?"
Hitomi replied, "I don't know how he took it, what's the usual reaction? I think he was pleased...well, as pleased as you can be in these situations. I'm not sure what's going to happen though"
"I just hope he's going to stick around for you" Mamoru said quietly, "I really want you to be happy Hitomi" he smacked his fist into his palm "And if he doesn't stick around then, then, well he won't like it"
Once again Hitomi was surprised by her brothers maturity, not that wanting to punch someone was mature but the fact that he understood the situation and wasn't clouded by the images that children usually have of life. Hitomi knew she didn't hold these visions of adulthood anymore, the Destiny Wars had cured her of that, but she could remember the dreams she'd had as a child.
"Anyway, I'm off to the stables again, I want to look at the horses we came in on, I've never seen horses this close before...well, apart from yesterday of course. Do you want to come?"
Hitomi shook her head and nodded to the pile of towels and her sports bag in her arms and said, "I want to get a bath in before I do anything" then I want to find Van, she added silently "But you go ahead"
Mamoru looked at her closely "Are you sure? I heard you threw up again"
Did everybody know that? Great, she should have realised the castle was a gossip mill. Yet, she thought, that's probably the reason why Celena had said 'in your condition'. She had probably thought Hitomi was ill! Hitomi practically fell over with relief that her secret wasn't out yet. She wanted to ask Van whether it was a good idea to spread the word.
"I'm fine" she assured her brother "It's just the..." she mouthed 'morning sickness' and he nodded secretively "Yeah, anyway I need a bath"
"Alright, well, I'll see you around. Meal time probably" Mamoru waved and then jogged off, meeting up with a group of young sentries at a gateway a way off yelling back to her "This is so cool!"
Hitomi envied his ease of making friends for a moment then headed towards the baths. She'd asked a maid if she could have a bath but was kindly explained to that since Fanelia's castle wasn't complete, all the occupants had to use communal baths. At Hitomi's horror the woman had laughed and told her that it was all right, the men and women went separate. It made things a little better, but not much.
So she'd gone looking for the baths and found them in a corner of the castle, out of the way of all the other areas and hidden from the bustle of palace guards and chores being done. Apparently everyone was busy because when Hitomi got there, apart from the maid who showed her where everything was, there was no one else there to fill the room made for around 30 people.
Hitomi was a little relieved, she was embarrassed even at the swimming bath changing rooms usually. So she took off her clothes and sank into the large hot water bath with a sigh to a seating platform below the water level.
She closed her eyes and lay her hand on her stomach, feeling the slight bump under her fingers. Hitomi smiled and wondered whether it was a boy or a girl, it was nice just to relax and think about these things. It was still hard to get her head around the fact she was going to be a mother.
As she moved her figure round the slight bulge Hitomi shot up out of the water as something shifted beneath her fingers and swelled. A movement? Hitomi relaxed and sank into the water, she didn't know whether it was normal for movements this early but if it was moving then surely it was alive and well enough to move.
Van had taken it well, at least, she thought he had. She'd been expecting an explosion or being disowned. No one seemed to be reacting the way she'd have thought. Hitomi hoped he was pleased, but there was the fact that he was producing offspring without a wife and that wouldn't sit well on the Kingdom's advisors. It always happened in books that she read, the King would have an illegimate son and then the son and mother would be outcast and forced into exile because the King couldn't face the embarrassment of the situation.
Well, it didn't ALWAYS happen, and Hitomi really did want a happy ending in her life. Van didn't seem the type to just get up and leave, or make her leave. And he'd seemed like he wasn't going to do something like that. He wouldn't, would he? Sure he was pushy sometimes, proud a whole lot, and a little stubborn at some times, but he wasn't like that. She was sure he didn't have that sort of dark side.
Hitomi sighed, she was 15 and with a baby. Girls at school had called another girl a slut for the same situation. Hitomi was glad she wasn't at school to suffer the same treatment. It was comforting to know that she was away from that and in a world where babies at 15 were common, in fact, she remembered being told by Millerna absently that girls married at 15 usually and got pregnant as soon as possible to make sure that they'd get that part out of the way as soon as possible so they could get their figures back.
Hitomi smiled, thinking of an image of herself with a sloppy figure, that wouldn't do well on track at all. She smiled slightly at the thought and then lay back more, to feel the water lapping on her skin and relax. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking how safe it felt here.
"Hitomi!"
Hitomi snapped her eyes open and sat up, going bright red. Merle was peering at her from the other side of the bath near the door, sinking into the hot water with a sigh much like her own a few moments ago. The small, cat-like figure waded her way across to hitomi and plonked herself down next to Hitomi. Hitomi sank further under the water.
"Your brother said you were having a bath," Merle said airily
"Oh" Hitomi replied, sinking a bit deeper into the water wishing Mamoru didn't make friends so quickly after all
As if reading her mind Merle announced "Your brother's a bit of an idiot, Hitomi. I mean he hit Lord Van! I'm glad he's not my brother"
Hitomi hid a grin and replied coolly "I'm sure he thinks the same thing Merle"
Merle ignored her and said "Lord Van's in an audience with Allen, Celena and that Gaddes man, I don't see why they're still here"
"Why were they here in the first place?" Hitomi asked
"Oh well..." Merle looked away and said, "You wouldn't understand"
"Do you know? You don't, do you?" Hitomi asked grinning
Merle put up her nose and said loftily "Of course I do. There have been disturbances on the border between Asturia and Fanelia"
Merle splashed her tail a little and began to wash behind her ears.
"What kind of disturbances?" Hitomi prayed that they hadn't been followed to Gaea
"Well" Merle got up on the underwater seat and whispered in Hitomi's ear quietly, even though there was no one else in the baths, "I'm not supposed to know but, well there's a window ledge outside the meeting room and, apparently the merchants travelling between Asturia and Fanelia have been disturbed by people. Strange people they say, with faces like masks who are clad all in black"
Hitomi's stomach dropped. It was impossible they could have followed her. Impossible. Unless...this was where they came from. Pulling away from Merle, Hitomi felt icy with fear. They could do nothing against these people even at their home. So what was going to happen now?
She had to find Van, he'd know what to do. Hitomi had no idea how to stop these things, they were beyond her knowledge.
Hitomi pulled herself out of the bath, hardly bothered about her appearance now until Merle said, "Hitomi, did you put on weight?"
Hitomi stared at Merle then at her stomach, her jaw dropped from the comment, there was barely any difference unless you knew! Merle began to giggle, then Hitomi realised it had been a joke and it wasn't to do with the baby at all.
"You rat!" she said, ducking Merle's head under the steaming water before getting out to dry off.
* * * * * *
"We're almost there," Van said quietly
They were on their way to the shrine to lay Escaflowne to rest and Hitomi knew that, when they got off the small cart they were travelling on, she'd have to leave. She wanted to see her family again, but this wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want to leave him.
They small cart rocked to and fro and Hitomi had three fingers linked in with Van's own hand, it was only a small gesture of the depth of feeling that she felt for him. It was continually flowing through her as they travelled. Fanelia seemed to reflect that, the sky was clear and the sun was shining down on the treetops while birdsong hung in the air. A perfect day for travel.
"Van..." Hitomi said quietly "Do you think Escaflowne will ever be used again?"
"Not by me" he replied "Perhaps many generations in the future. Hopefully this peace will be long lasting"
"I hope so," Hitomi said, looking out at the passing forest
"So do I" Van sighed and he pulled something out of his pocket and spent a long time looking at it, Hitomi noticed it was the ring but said nothing to disturb him
A call from the driver went up and the cart drew to a halt.
"This is it" Van hopped out of the cart and stretched, saying to Hitomi "We'll be on foot from here, the shrine is around two hours walk into the forest"
Hitomi nodded and climbed out, brining her trusty duffel bag. She looked at the cart and touched the wood delicately, this was it. Only a little while longer. She sighed and began to follow Van into the forest. The sun was very warm and soon her old school uniform (thankfully, it has been washed several times and mended) began to get stifling, she peeled off the jacket and hung it over her duffel bag, sighing as she stepped over several tree roots.
The walked in silence for a long time and then resting a little at a stream they found along the trail, enjoying each other's company. Hitomi remembered she had felt very awkward alone with Van when she had first met him; he had seemed so arrogant and spoilt in the beginning, he'd been cold in the training room with Balgus and reluctant to be even near her.
Merle was completely the opposite of course, stealing her pendant and finding any excuse to tease her.
Hitomi peeled her fingers of her pendant, which she realised she'd been holding tightly, and remembered all the good times they'd had. Like at Freid when she'd been trying to teach Van to find a hiding Merle. Hitomi smiled, but even though that was a good memory, a lot of them were overshadowed by the looming war ahead and destruction of Fanelia behind.
War seemed to occupy Gaea as much as it did Earth, it was sad.
Stumbling over a rock, Hitomi landed onto her duffel bag with a yell, disturbing a crowd of birds from a nearby tree. Van looked back from his position ahead and began to make his way back through the undergrowth to help her.
Hitomi lay on her bag, turning over to stare up through the dappled sunlight, her vision clouded by light. A shadow went over her and she smiled at Van.
"You ought to be getting up you know," he said with a smile
"I like it down here" Hitomi said
"You need to go back sometime"
Hitomi's good mood vanished, not that she'd been in a good mood, but there had been a certain amount of a good will toward seeing her family again. Now it was gone, she'd never see Van again.
She felt her lip tremble and she turned over to lie on her belly on the duffel bag, away from Van.
"Hitomi" he squatted down beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder "Don't cry, you're making me sad"
"Sorry" she mumbled
The sat on the trail for a while, not moving or making a sound. Hitomi listened to Van's breathing above her and wished with all her heart that there was someway to stay with him. Who could tell whether she'd ever see him again? She took a breath and rolled over. A thought hit her.
"Van?"
"Yes?"
She blushed a little and mumbled something incoherently.
"What?"
"May I see your wings one last time?" she asked quietly, directing her eyes away from his reaction "I want to make sure I remember..."
He smiled sadly and pulled off his shirt, searching for a space to spread his wings without hitting anything, he moved away from hitomi and out into a clearing of a few trees and took a breath.
Hitomi gasped as a rain of snow white feathers floated down from above her and she marvelled at the fact that the sight of him never ceased to take her breath away. Scrambling up she bushed through the undergrowth to wrap her arms around him tightly, careful of his wings, squeezing him tightly as if she'd never let him go. They stayed like that for a moment.
"Hitomi, we'd better be going" Van said softly
"Yes" Hitomi sighed, "I can't forget, I won't forget...it was all here. Never ever, Van. I'll say this all over again later I know it. But I don't want to forget it, you, me, this tree and this forest. Fanelia, Asturia..." she trailed off as he peeled her away from him
"Don't think like that" he said smiling bravely "We're not even at the shrine, don't ever make good byes unless you're certain it's the end"
* * * * * *
Hitomi found her way to the meeting hall after about half an hour of getting out of the bath. Leaving Merle to her own devices, Hitomi pulled on her gym clothes from her sports bag that she'd still managed to keep a hold on and asked for directions. Directions didn't seem to work in Fanelia castle as Hitomi soon found herself back in the living quarters when she'd been making her way to the opposite side of the castle.
She cursed herself, how easy was it to get lost in two storeys that had windows everywhere? She must have taken a wrong turning somewhere. Then, as soon as she'd thought that, she heard voices coming from behind a large wooden door at the end of the corridor.
"Allen, there's really no need for you to stay any longer"
Van's voice, Hitomi headed for the door, but paused to listen for a moment.
"Van you know we're needed to patrol the borders, we can't stay here. I doubt that the people in your city will be bothered by these...things" Allen replied, he sounded tired "We need to patrol the borders of Asturia. I'm sure they won't attack you"
"That's what they all said about Zaibach, and we were burnt to the ground!"
"Allen...we can stay a little while can't we?" Celena asked soothingly "A day or two won't make much difference, and I'm sure you'd love to catch up with Hitomi"
"Well..."
"I really need you here Allen" Van said quietly
Hitomi shook herself to stop eavesdropping and knocked on the door gingerly. A scuffle inside the room and suddenly the door was thrown open by Van, with his sword again. He pulled back when he saw who it was and then moved back to let the rest of the occupants see the visitor. Allen, Celena and Gaddes were also in the room, all looked relatively surprised to see her. Still not used to the idea that she was back it was strange to see her in a hall.
She drew up her courage to ask straight out about the people in the forest, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Van, I~" she was cut off by a stab of pain in her stomach, she fell to the floor in pain
"Hitomi?" Van yelled and threw down his sword, coming forward on his hands and knees, "Hitomi? What's the matter? Hitomi?"
The pain was almost unbearable this time, and the baby inside her felt like it was screaming its guts out, Hitomi felt the tears of pain squeeze out of her eyes but she couldn't answer Van. The pain was too much, she could only moan and hold her stomach. It felt like the lower part of her body was being torn apart by nothing, pain weaving itself into every muscle of her being. Hitomi felt her body begin to convulse violently, a vision racking her mind.
...
...
...
A body of a dead angel lay in a shaft of life, lifeless eyes staring up to the sky forever more, black feathers falling silently around. A scuffle in the background and it the broken form was surrounded by shadows. They screamed and shrilled and then, carefully as not to step into the beam of light, they dragged the body into the darkness.
Soon only the feathers were left as the feet were dragged into the darkness. Hitomi found herself in the beam of light, surrounded by figures with no one around, her tarot cards spreading themselves at her feet in patterns she'd never seen before and as she let out a terrified scream the light above her went out and she felt the cold air of the dark around her.
Movement filled her ears and she felt icy grips on her arms and body as freezing burns were seared into her skin. She pulled and tugged but there was no effect.
Out of nowhere another shriek filled the space and instead of a wordless, head splitting noise, words were formed.
"We must have another"
...
...
...
"Hitomi?" they had all gathered around, Van and Allen holding her as the convulsions shook her body as Celena tried to calm her down by whispering comforting words in her ear. Gaddes had gone for help.
The girl shook and gasped for air in reply to their efforts.
"What's happening?" Van asked fearfully, grappling with Hitomi's wrists that were shooting out in all directions to grasp nothing but empty air
"I have no idea" Celena replied, "I know almost nothing about medicine"
"We need to stop the convulsions, we don't know whether she's suffocating" Allen said, trying to stop Hitomi's skull from shattering on the wooden floor "Her air ways might be closed"
"Where's Millerna when you need her?" Gaddes puffed, sprinting down the hallway to them, he stopped for air and gasped "The nearest healers in the furthest area of town, Commander, I've sent out horses but we'll have to do something ourselves"
Van cried out as Hitomi's hand wrenched itself free from his grip and pulled neck down towards her head then let go to grab his shirt, Van pulled Hitomi up from the floor and drew her into his arms, being hit all the time with the convulsions, her small frame battering itself against his bones.
Hitomi's eyes shot open and she let out a gargled noise and gasped for breath through the violence and then managed a mangled gasp of "They're here" as she fell backwards, still finally.
"No" Van felt a stab of fear at his heart as her words echoed around his mind, grabbing Hitomi's clothes he began to frantically undo the buttons to her shirt to the protests of the other people present
"Van!" Allen grabbed Van's arms to prevent him from further dishonouring Hitomi, but Van flung his grip off and continued
"What are you doing? Van!" Celena yelled
"Shut up!"
Van made his fingers worked as he reached the last button, the fingers seemed suddenly numb and clumsy, freezing cold as he tried to move the immobile clasps, and finally he seemed to finish the job revealing Hitomi's bra and vest top beneath. He pulled the vest top off and felt his mouth go dry at the sight.
Handprints were burnt into her body, from her arms down to the waistband of her trousers. They all gasped and drew back from the injuries. Van was the first to react, he jumped up, pulling his sword back into his grip and raced down the corridor.
"Van?" Allen got up and raced after him, blonde hair flying out in all directions and looking like a flame behind him "Van, what's going on? Where did the marks come from?"
"We're under attack!" Van called back, finding a lone sentry and growling "tell the troops to search the castle, look for any unauthorised people, anyone not a servant or sentry, round them up"
The man wavered.
"Get to it!" Van said more loudly "It may sound stupid but do it now!"
"Yes sir" the man sprinted off and Van moved to a window to stare across the valley
The day seemed darker than it had and it seemed like the sun was behind a huge dark cloud. Van felt a sudden breeze whip around his chest and it chilled him. The palace was silent, no sign of the activity he had expected from his guards. If they were under attack perhaps that guard was dead already.
"So" he said quietly "Now I get to see my enemy"
Allen suddenly appeared at his side, but said nothing, his blonde hair waving lazily. Van was suddenly very glad that Allen and his men had brought Hitomi and her brother here, very glad that Celena had tried to convince her brother to stay a while. Van felt very alone at the moment, he knew he couldn't protect Hitomi from whatever was after her on his own. He couldn't protect his own child on his own, especially when it seemed these things were supernatural.
Just when things had begun to die down in Fanelia, they were blowing up again, he had wished to see Hitomi again but obviously he was paying a price for it being granted.
A guard ran up, holding his lance at the ready will a yell of "My Lords" he stopped to catch his breath and said "We've rounded up all of the people not in the army or of castle worker occupation"
"Good" Van nodded, "Line them up in the courtyard, we're going to check each one"
The man nodded and hurried off again.
"Do you have ay idea what you're looking for?" Allen asked
"I have a pretty good idea"
"You think the men from the borders are here, don't you?"
Van looked at Allen, his eyes were determined and he said, "I have no doubt"
Allen look away across the courtyard where all the people found were being lined up. Allen sighed, he needed to know what was going on and he was sure that Hitomi and Van were in on the secret.
"Do you know what's the matter with Hitomi?" Allen asked
"Yes"
"But you're not going to tell me"
"No" Van said tiredly "Not yet anyway, I'm still not sure what I'm looking for. I only have second hand descriptions of who these attackers are, but I know from back there" he jerked his thumb in Hitomi's direction "That they're after something and that they're here right now" he strode out into the cool, open air of the courtyard and over to the group
Allen stared after him, then sighed and began to follow him fingering his sword edgily.
Van strode up and down the line of people until he came to a stop at one end, he turned around to face the group and said loudly "I'm going to ask each of you to come forward, anyone without a valid reason to be in the castle will be held in the custody of the castle"
"But why?" the man in front of all the others asked, looking worried "We haven't done anything"
Van frowned "It's not what you have done, it's what you might do. Now come forward, we need your name and business in the castle"
They walked forward one at a time, and one at a time they were let on their way by the castle guards. Name after name was given and all reasons were checked and rechecked, the group left in the courtyard grew smaller and smaller. Three people, two people and then the last person.
Van rubbed his arms against the chill wind that had appeared and looked at the last man. The man didn't seem bothered about the fact he was last or that he was to give his name and business next. He just stood with his back away from them and said nothing.
"Hey, excuse me!" a Sentry called "Sir, you're to come and give your name and business"
No reply.
Van's frown deepened, he inspected the man from behind, the man wore a very broad hat and a black cape, hiding his features and causing Van to be unable to distinguish anything about the last man.
"Mayhap he's deaf," a guard muttered
Van shrugged and moved towards him, maybe the man was deaf, and there was only one way to find out. He began to walk towards the man, sure that he would detect van's movement, but even so, there was no reaction at all. Van drew closer and began to feel the hairs on the back of his neck go up, like just before a storm.
"Hey" Van reached out and place his hand on the mans shoulder and began to pull him around "You're to sta~"
The figure whirled around and grabbed Van's wrist in a death grip, Van pulled away as he began to feel pain stab into the skin where the man held his grip. Looking up frantically at the face he was horrified to find that there was no face, underneath the brim of the hat was a hood and then...nothing.
A sentry yelled and then a shout of alarm went off and Van could hear a shout of a guard as they ran forward to protect him.
Using his other hand, against the pain of one arm Van ripped out his sword and brought it down upon the limb holding him prisoner. It fell off and it the ground, but no blood was spilt. Falling back with the effort of the blow that had seemed to slice through the limb like a knife on hot butter, Van stumbled back as Allen flew in front of him and drew his sword.
"Stand down" Allen growled and then narrowed his eyes at the empty hood "What's this?" he drew back slowly from the figure as a ring of guards surrounded it
"This is what we're looking for," Van said lowly, he held his wrist to his chest, inspecting the painful blistered skin that the thing had inflicted on him, the skin burnt into an ugly hand shape
"I see" Allen said, and called to the guards "Get it"
The guards rushed forward, but in a moment, the thing had gone. Hat and all. And the Guards tumbled into the centre of their ring left with nothing but the wind and the quietly shadowed daylight.
* * *
How was that chapter? Was it ok? I was writing it and then I actually read a fic where Hitomi had a seizure with a vision 0_o after I had written this and it must be a weird brainwave we've all been sending around because the day I'd written it I went on ff.net and there was another fic with a seizure vision 0_o weird, huh? Maybe Hitomi's been sending visions of her own to all us ff.net writers! Sorry if that was your idea to give Hitomi a seizure with the vision, but, well, it was a great one so well done you! Hmm, maybe I should rewrite this chapter too, I'm not sure about the Hitomi/Van section, it seems a little OOC for Van, huh?
Anyway, new chapter, hurray! I've got situations in my head of what I want to happen but I'm not sure how to get there yet. I'll just write I think and see how it goes! You will tell me if I'm ruining this fic won't you? Fluff? No idea what it is!! Wait, wait, yes I do, someone explained it to me! Thank you! I'm not sure, it depends what happens...
About tarot cards Axel, that is so cool about the meanings. Yeah I really didn't know anything about what I was reading but I was trying to copy the style of 'Hitomi's Tarot Reading' from the show. I always wanted to tarot read but I don't have time to learn all the meanings at the moment. Thank you for your info though.
Ack, I'm pretty much stuck...how would you guys deal with a really upsetting end to the story? Because I had a thought to do something but then it would really make everyone sad so I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it...So happy ending or sad and longing ending? Or both? Anyway, did I mention I had a lot of ideas for this fic from a dream I had? For some reason it was my dream which then mixed in with Escaflowne and I dreamt about both! And then a couple of days I had another dream with Escaflowne 0_o
Hey, I just heard the most perfect song for Van and Hitomi (well it seems that way) it's called 'Ai no Uta' and it's by a band called Every Little Thing and it just seems like a V/H song for some reason, it means 'love song' doesn't it? I didn't like it at first then it just grew on my and it just hit me how much this makes me think of Van and Hitomi...I'm listening to Ayumi Hamasaki cyber trance stuff at the moment...I feel like writing something violent.
My Maaya Sakamoto page hasn't been updated for a while, the host has been messing up and so it won't let me update...BUT I HAVE SO MUCH NEWS! Hmm, this section is like a big long rant, really?
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne!
* * *
It was soon after breakfast when Mamoru caught up to her on the way to the communal baths, apparently he'd been having a tour of the castle with some sentries he'd made friends with. He looked out of breath and someone had given him some clothes, a cross between Van's and Allen's, stylish yet functional Hitomi noted. His face had bruising and a black eye on the exact same side where Van's was, a prize of the punch up.
"My head's spinning, Hitomi!" he gushed, he looked like he was spinning too "I've been told so much about this place and it's just...just...incredible. I feel like it ought to be impossible and yet here I am! Standing here!"
Hitomi nodded, she'd felt like that too.
"So I saw the city and stables and where they're building the Castle upwards and where they're quarrying the stone, it's like a history textbook mixed with science fiction! I've been up since dawn and I'm still buzzing," Mamoru stopped for breath and then said cautiously "So...how'd he take it?"
Hitomi replied, "I don't know how he took it, what's the usual reaction? I think he was pleased...well, as pleased as you can be in these situations. I'm not sure what's going to happen though"
"I just hope he's going to stick around for you" Mamoru said quietly, "I really want you to be happy Hitomi" he smacked his fist into his palm "And if he doesn't stick around then, then, well he won't like it"
Once again Hitomi was surprised by her brothers maturity, not that wanting to punch someone was mature but the fact that he understood the situation and wasn't clouded by the images that children usually have of life. Hitomi knew she didn't hold these visions of adulthood anymore, the Destiny Wars had cured her of that, but she could remember the dreams she'd had as a child.
"Anyway, I'm off to the stables again, I want to look at the horses we came in on, I've never seen horses this close before...well, apart from yesterday of course. Do you want to come?"
Hitomi shook her head and nodded to the pile of towels and her sports bag in her arms and said, "I want to get a bath in before I do anything" then I want to find Van, she added silently "But you go ahead"
Mamoru looked at her closely "Are you sure? I heard you threw up again"
Did everybody know that? Great, she should have realised the castle was a gossip mill. Yet, she thought, that's probably the reason why Celena had said 'in your condition'. She had probably thought Hitomi was ill! Hitomi practically fell over with relief that her secret wasn't out yet. She wanted to ask Van whether it was a good idea to spread the word.
"I'm fine" she assured her brother "It's just the..." she mouthed 'morning sickness' and he nodded secretively "Yeah, anyway I need a bath"
"Alright, well, I'll see you around. Meal time probably" Mamoru waved and then jogged off, meeting up with a group of young sentries at a gateway a way off yelling back to her "This is so cool!"
Hitomi envied his ease of making friends for a moment then headed towards the baths. She'd asked a maid if she could have a bath but was kindly explained to that since Fanelia's castle wasn't complete, all the occupants had to use communal baths. At Hitomi's horror the woman had laughed and told her that it was all right, the men and women went separate. It made things a little better, but not much.
So she'd gone looking for the baths and found them in a corner of the castle, out of the way of all the other areas and hidden from the bustle of palace guards and chores being done. Apparently everyone was busy because when Hitomi got there, apart from the maid who showed her where everything was, there was no one else there to fill the room made for around 30 people.
Hitomi was a little relieved, she was embarrassed even at the swimming bath changing rooms usually. So she took off her clothes and sank into the large hot water bath with a sigh to a seating platform below the water level.
She closed her eyes and lay her hand on her stomach, feeling the slight bump under her fingers. Hitomi smiled and wondered whether it was a boy or a girl, it was nice just to relax and think about these things. It was still hard to get her head around the fact she was going to be a mother.
As she moved her figure round the slight bulge Hitomi shot up out of the water as something shifted beneath her fingers and swelled. A movement? Hitomi relaxed and sank into the water, she didn't know whether it was normal for movements this early but if it was moving then surely it was alive and well enough to move.
Van had taken it well, at least, she thought he had. She'd been expecting an explosion or being disowned. No one seemed to be reacting the way she'd have thought. Hitomi hoped he was pleased, but there was the fact that he was producing offspring without a wife and that wouldn't sit well on the Kingdom's advisors. It always happened in books that she read, the King would have an illegimate son and then the son and mother would be outcast and forced into exile because the King couldn't face the embarrassment of the situation.
Well, it didn't ALWAYS happen, and Hitomi really did want a happy ending in her life. Van didn't seem the type to just get up and leave, or make her leave. And he'd seemed like he wasn't going to do something like that. He wouldn't, would he? Sure he was pushy sometimes, proud a whole lot, and a little stubborn at some times, but he wasn't like that. She was sure he didn't have that sort of dark side.
Hitomi sighed, she was 15 and with a baby. Girls at school had called another girl a slut for the same situation. Hitomi was glad she wasn't at school to suffer the same treatment. It was comforting to know that she was away from that and in a world where babies at 15 were common, in fact, she remembered being told by Millerna absently that girls married at 15 usually and got pregnant as soon as possible to make sure that they'd get that part out of the way as soon as possible so they could get their figures back.
Hitomi smiled, thinking of an image of herself with a sloppy figure, that wouldn't do well on track at all. She smiled slightly at the thought and then lay back more, to feel the water lapping on her skin and relax. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking how safe it felt here.
"Hitomi!"
Hitomi snapped her eyes open and sat up, going bright red. Merle was peering at her from the other side of the bath near the door, sinking into the hot water with a sigh much like her own a few moments ago. The small, cat-like figure waded her way across to hitomi and plonked herself down next to Hitomi. Hitomi sank further under the water.
"Your brother said you were having a bath," Merle said airily
"Oh" Hitomi replied, sinking a bit deeper into the water wishing Mamoru didn't make friends so quickly after all
As if reading her mind Merle announced "Your brother's a bit of an idiot, Hitomi. I mean he hit Lord Van! I'm glad he's not my brother"
Hitomi hid a grin and replied coolly "I'm sure he thinks the same thing Merle"
Merle ignored her and said "Lord Van's in an audience with Allen, Celena and that Gaddes man, I don't see why they're still here"
"Why were they here in the first place?" Hitomi asked
"Oh well..." Merle looked away and said, "You wouldn't understand"
"Do you know? You don't, do you?" Hitomi asked grinning
Merle put up her nose and said loftily "Of course I do. There have been disturbances on the border between Asturia and Fanelia"
Merle splashed her tail a little and began to wash behind her ears.
"What kind of disturbances?" Hitomi prayed that they hadn't been followed to Gaea
"Well" Merle got up on the underwater seat and whispered in Hitomi's ear quietly, even though there was no one else in the baths, "I'm not supposed to know but, well there's a window ledge outside the meeting room and, apparently the merchants travelling between Asturia and Fanelia have been disturbed by people. Strange people they say, with faces like masks who are clad all in black"
Hitomi's stomach dropped. It was impossible they could have followed her. Impossible. Unless...this was where they came from. Pulling away from Merle, Hitomi felt icy with fear. They could do nothing against these people even at their home. So what was going to happen now?
She had to find Van, he'd know what to do. Hitomi had no idea how to stop these things, they were beyond her knowledge.
Hitomi pulled herself out of the bath, hardly bothered about her appearance now until Merle said, "Hitomi, did you put on weight?"
Hitomi stared at Merle then at her stomach, her jaw dropped from the comment, there was barely any difference unless you knew! Merle began to giggle, then Hitomi realised it had been a joke and it wasn't to do with the baby at all.
"You rat!" she said, ducking Merle's head under the steaming water before getting out to dry off.
* * * * * *
"We're almost there," Van said quietly
They were on their way to the shrine to lay Escaflowne to rest and Hitomi knew that, when they got off the small cart they were travelling on, she'd have to leave. She wanted to see her family again, but this wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want to leave him.
They small cart rocked to and fro and Hitomi had three fingers linked in with Van's own hand, it was only a small gesture of the depth of feeling that she felt for him. It was continually flowing through her as they travelled. Fanelia seemed to reflect that, the sky was clear and the sun was shining down on the treetops while birdsong hung in the air. A perfect day for travel.
"Van..." Hitomi said quietly "Do you think Escaflowne will ever be used again?"
"Not by me" he replied "Perhaps many generations in the future. Hopefully this peace will be long lasting"
"I hope so," Hitomi said, looking out at the passing forest
"So do I" Van sighed and he pulled something out of his pocket and spent a long time looking at it, Hitomi noticed it was the ring but said nothing to disturb him
A call from the driver went up and the cart drew to a halt.
"This is it" Van hopped out of the cart and stretched, saying to Hitomi "We'll be on foot from here, the shrine is around two hours walk into the forest"
Hitomi nodded and climbed out, brining her trusty duffel bag. She looked at the cart and touched the wood delicately, this was it. Only a little while longer. She sighed and began to follow Van into the forest. The sun was very warm and soon her old school uniform (thankfully, it has been washed several times and mended) began to get stifling, she peeled off the jacket and hung it over her duffel bag, sighing as she stepped over several tree roots.
The walked in silence for a long time and then resting a little at a stream they found along the trail, enjoying each other's company. Hitomi remembered she had felt very awkward alone with Van when she had first met him; he had seemed so arrogant and spoilt in the beginning, he'd been cold in the training room with Balgus and reluctant to be even near her.
Merle was completely the opposite of course, stealing her pendant and finding any excuse to tease her.
Hitomi peeled her fingers of her pendant, which she realised she'd been holding tightly, and remembered all the good times they'd had. Like at Freid when she'd been trying to teach Van to find a hiding Merle. Hitomi smiled, but even though that was a good memory, a lot of them were overshadowed by the looming war ahead and destruction of Fanelia behind.
War seemed to occupy Gaea as much as it did Earth, it was sad.
Stumbling over a rock, Hitomi landed onto her duffel bag with a yell, disturbing a crowd of birds from a nearby tree. Van looked back from his position ahead and began to make his way back through the undergrowth to help her.
Hitomi lay on her bag, turning over to stare up through the dappled sunlight, her vision clouded by light. A shadow went over her and she smiled at Van.
"You ought to be getting up you know," he said with a smile
"I like it down here" Hitomi said
"You need to go back sometime"
Hitomi's good mood vanished, not that she'd been in a good mood, but there had been a certain amount of a good will toward seeing her family again. Now it was gone, she'd never see Van again.
She felt her lip tremble and she turned over to lie on her belly on the duffel bag, away from Van.
"Hitomi" he squatted down beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder "Don't cry, you're making me sad"
"Sorry" she mumbled
The sat on the trail for a while, not moving or making a sound. Hitomi listened to Van's breathing above her and wished with all her heart that there was someway to stay with him. Who could tell whether she'd ever see him again? She took a breath and rolled over. A thought hit her.
"Van?"
"Yes?"
She blushed a little and mumbled something incoherently.
"What?"
"May I see your wings one last time?" she asked quietly, directing her eyes away from his reaction "I want to make sure I remember..."
He smiled sadly and pulled off his shirt, searching for a space to spread his wings without hitting anything, he moved away from hitomi and out into a clearing of a few trees and took a breath.
Hitomi gasped as a rain of snow white feathers floated down from above her and she marvelled at the fact that the sight of him never ceased to take her breath away. Scrambling up she bushed through the undergrowth to wrap her arms around him tightly, careful of his wings, squeezing him tightly as if she'd never let him go. They stayed like that for a moment.
"Hitomi, we'd better be going" Van said softly
"Yes" Hitomi sighed, "I can't forget, I won't forget...it was all here. Never ever, Van. I'll say this all over again later I know it. But I don't want to forget it, you, me, this tree and this forest. Fanelia, Asturia..." she trailed off as he peeled her away from him
"Don't think like that" he said smiling bravely "We're not even at the shrine, don't ever make good byes unless you're certain it's the end"
* * * * * *
Hitomi found her way to the meeting hall after about half an hour of getting out of the bath. Leaving Merle to her own devices, Hitomi pulled on her gym clothes from her sports bag that she'd still managed to keep a hold on and asked for directions. Directions didn't seem to work in Fanelia castle as Hitomi soon found herself back in the living quarters when she'd been making her way to the opposite side of the castle.
She cursed herself, how easy was it to get lost in two storeys that had windows everywhere? She must have taken a wrong turning somewhere. Then, as soon as she'd thought that, she heard voices coming from behind a large wooden door at the end of the corridor.
"Allen, there's really no need for you to stay any longer"
Van's voice, Hitomi headed for the door, but paused to listen for a moment.
"Van you know we're needed to patrol the borders, we can't stay here. I doubt that the people in your city will be bothered by these...things" Allen replied, he sounded tired "We need to patrol the borders of Asturia. I'm sure they won't attack you"
"That's what they all said about Zaibach, and we were burnt to the ground!"
"Allen...we can stay a little while can't we?" Celena asked soothingly "A day or two won't make much difference, and I'm sure you'd love to catch up with Hitomi"
"Well..."
"I really need you here Allen" Van said quietly
Hitomi shook herself to stop eavesdropping and knocked on the door gingerly. A scuffle inside the room and suddenly the door was thrown open by Van, with his sword again. He pulled back when he saw who it was and then moved back to let the rest of the occupants see the visitor. Allen, Celena and Gaddes were also in the room, all looked relatively surprised to see her. Still not used to the idea that she was back it was strange to see her in a hall.
She drew up her courage to ask straight out about the people in the forest, she opened her mouth to speak.
"Van, I~" she was cut off by a stab of pain in her stomach, she fell to the floor in pain
"Hitomi?" Van yelled and threw down his sword, coming forward on his hands and knees, "Hitomi? What's the matter? Hitomi?"
The pain was almost unbearable this time, and the baby inside her felt like it was screaming its guts out, Hitomi felt the tears of pain squeeze out of her eyes but she couldn't answer Van. The pain was too much, she could only moan and hold her stomach. It felt like the lower part of her body was being torn apart by nothing, pain weaving itself into every muscle of her being. Hitomi felt her body begin to convulse violently, a vision racking her mind.
...
...
...
A body of a dead angel lay in a shaft of life, lifeless eyes staring up to the sky forever more, black feathers falling silently around. A scuffle in the background and it the broken form was surrounded by shadows. They screamed and shrilled and then, carefully as not to step into the beam of light, they dragged the body into the darkness.
Soon only the feathers were left as the feet were dragged into the darkness. Hitomi found herself in the beam of light, surrounded by figures with no one around, her tarot cards spreading themselves at her feet in patterns she'd never seen before and as she let out a terrified scream the light above her went out and she felt the cold air of the dark around her.
Movement filled her ears and she felt icy grips on her arms and body as freezing burns were seared into her skin. She pulled and tugged but there was no effect.
Out of nowhere another shriek filled the space and instead of a wordless, head splitting noise, words were formed.
"We must have another"
...
...
...
"Hitomi?" they had all gathered around, Van and Allen holding her as the convulsions shook her body as Celena tried to calm her down by whispering comforting words in her ear. Gaddes had gone for help.
The girl shook and gasped for air in reply to their efforts.
"What's happening?" Van asked fearfully, grappling with Hitomi's wrists that were shooting out in all directions to grasp nothing but empty air
"I have no idea" Celena replied, "I know almost nothing about medicine"
"We need to stop the convulsions, we don't know whether she's suffocating" Allen said, trying to stop Hitomi's skull from shattering on the wooden floor "Her air ways might be closed"
"Where's Millerna when you need her?" Gaddes puffed, sprinting down the hallway to them, he stopped for air and gasped "The nearest healers in the furthest area of town, Commander, I've sent out horses but we'll have to do something ourselves"
Van cried out as Hitomi's hand wrenched itself free from his grip and pulled neck down towards her head then let go to grab his shirt, Van pulled Hitomi up from the floor and drew her into his arms, being hit all the time with the convulsions, her small frame battering itself against his bones.
Hitomi's eyes shot open and she let out a gargled noise and gasped for breath through the violence and then managed a mangled gasp of "They're here" as she fell backwards, still finally.
"No" Van felt a stab of fear at his heart as her words echoed around his mind, grabbing Hitomi's clothes he began to frantically undo the buttons to her shirt to the protests of the other people present
"Van!" Allen grabbed Van's arms to prevent him from further dishonouring Hitomi, but Van flung his grip off and continued
"What are you doing? Van!" Celena yelled
"Shut up!"
Van made his fingers worked as he reached the last button, the fingers seemed suddenly numb and clumsy, freezing cold as he tried to move the immobile clasps, and finally he seemed to finish the job revealing Hitomi's bra and vest top beneath. He pulled the vest top off and felt his mouth go dry at the sight.
Handprints were burnt into her body, from her arms down to the waistband of her trousers. They all gasped and drew back from the injuries. Van was the first to react, he jumped up, pulling his sword back into his grip and raced down the corridor.
"Van?" Allen got up and raced after him, blonde hair flying out in all directions and looking like a flame behind him "Van, what's going on? Where did the marks come from?"
"We're under attack!" Van called back, finding a lone sentry and growling "tell the troops to search the castle, look for any unauthorised people, anyone not a servant or sentry, round them up"
The man wavered.
"Get to it!" Van said more loudly "It may sound stupid but do it now!"
"Yes sir" the man sprinted off and Van moved to a window to stare across the valley
The day seemed darker than it had and it seemed like the sun was behind a huge dark cloud. Van felt a sudden breeze whip around his chest and it chilled him. The palace was silent, no sign of the activity he had expected from his guards. If they were under attack perhaps that guard was dead already.
"So" he said quietly "Now I get to see my enemy"
Allen suddenly appeared at his side, but said nothing, his blonde hair waving lazily. Van was suddenly very glad that Allen and his men had brought Hitomi and her brother here, very glad that Celena had tried to convince her brother to stay a while. Van felt very alone at the moment, he knew he couldn't protect Hitomi from whatever was after her on his own. He couldn't protect his own child on his own, especially when it seemed these things were supernatural.
Just when things had begun to die down in Fanelia, they were blowing up again, he had wished to see Hitomi again but obviously he was paying a price for it being granted.
A guard ran up, holding his lance at the ready will a yell of "My Lords" he stopped to catch his breath and said "We've rounded up all of the people not in the army or of castle worker occupation"
"Good" Van nodded, "Line them up in the courtyard, we're going to check each one"
The man nodded and hurried off again.
"Do you have ay idea what you're looking for?" Allen asked
"I have a pretty good idea"
"You think the men from the borders are here, don't you?"
Van looked at Allen, his eyes were determined and he said, "I have no doubt"
Allen look away across the courtyard where all the people found were being lined up. Allen sighed, he needed to know what was going on and he was sure that Hitomi and Van were in on the secret.
"Do you know what's the matter with Hitomi?" Allen asked
"Yes"
"But you're not going to tell me"
"No" Van said tiredly "Not yet anyway, I'm still not sure what I'm looking for. I only have second hand descriptions of who these attackers are, but I know from back there" he jerked his thumb in Hitomi's direction "That they're after something and that they're here right now" he strode out into the cool, open air of the courtyard and over to the group
Allen stared after him, then sighed and began to follow him fingering his sword edgily.
Van strode up and down the line of people until he came to a stop at one end, he turned around to face the group and said loudly "I'm going to ask each of you to come forward, anyone without a valid reason to be in the castle will be held in the custody of the castle"
"But why?" the man in front of all the others asked, looking worried "We haven't done anything"
Van frowned "It's not what you have done, it's what you might do. Now come forward, we need your name and business in the castle"
They walked forward one at a time, and one at a time they were let on their way by the castle guards. Name after name was given and all reasons were checked and rechecked, the group left in the courtyard grew smaller and smaller. Three people, two people and then the last person.
Van rubbed his arms against the chill wind that had appeared and looked at the last man. The man didn't seem bothered about the fact he was last or that he was to give his name and business next. He just stood with his back away from them and said nothing.
"Hey, excuse me!" a Sentry called "Sir, you're to come and give your name and business"
No reply.
Van's frown deepened, he inspected the man from behind, the man wore a very broad hat and a black cape, hiding his features and causing Van to be unable to distinguish anything about the last man.
"Mayhap he's deaf," a guard muttered
Van shrugged and moved towards him, maybe the man was deaf, and there was only one way to find out. He began to walk towards the man, sure that he would detect van's movement, but even so, there was no reaction at all. Van drew closer and began to feel the hairs on the back of his neck go up, like just before a storm.
"Hey" Van reached out and place his hand on the mans shoulder and began to pull him around "You're to sta~"
The figure whirled around and grabbed Van's wrist in a death grip, Van pulled away as he began to feel pain stab into the skin where the man held his grip. Looking up frantically at the face he was horrified to find that there was no face, underneath the brim of the hat was a hood and then...nothing.
A sentry yelled and then a shout of alarm went off and Van could hear a shout of a guard as they ran forward to protect him.
Using his other hand, against the pain of one arm Van ripped out his sword and brought it down upon the limb holding him prisoner. It fell off and it the ground, but no blood was spilt. Falling back with the effort of the blow that had seemed to slice through the limb like a knife on hot butter, Van stumbled back as Allen flew in front of him and drew his sword.
"Stand down" Allen growled and then narrowed his eyes at the empty hood "What's this?" he drew back slowly from the figure as a ring of guards surrounded it
"This is what we're looking for," Van said lowly, he held his wrist to his chest, inspecting the painful blistered skin that the thing had inflicted on him, the skin burnt into an ugly hand shape
"I see" Allen said, and called to the guards "Get it"
The guards rushed forward, but in a moment, the thing had gone. Hat and all. And the Guards tumbled into the centre of their ring left with nothing but the wind and the quietly shadowed daylight.
* * *
How was that chapter? Was it ok? I was writing it and then I actually read a fic where Hitomi had a seizure with a vision 0_o after I had written this and it must be a weird brainwave we've all been sending around because the day I'd written it I went on ff.net and there was another fic with a seizure vision 0_o weird, huh? Maybe Hitomi's been sending visions of her own to all us ff.net writers! Sorry if that was your idea to give Hitomi a seizure with the vision, but, well, it was a great one so well done you! Hmm, maybe I should rewrite this chapter too, I'm not sure about the Hitomi/Van section, it seems a little OOC for Van, huh?