Hi! I'm really sorry it's been so long but the next chapter is up. I've kind of been on a barbecue of flames right now, so we have to get some things strait! First, I am so sorry for the grammatical and spelling mistakes that were in the 15th and 16th chapters. I have gone through and re-edited them, so the mistakes (for the most part) are gone.
Keman's age, on suggestion, has been changed to 10 months old, with a strange trait of growing way to fast…and yes, I did get the name 'Keman' from Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey's ElvenBlood books. (What can I say, it's an awesome name!) *Chibi-Bozena wacks her shoulder angel with a big paper fan ; )
The reason Aronic knows so much and catches on so quick, along with the reason Amano and Yukari don't remember Van's short visit, etc, will be explained later in the fic. Please, just trust me, guys! Wait! I feel another poem coming!
Please read my fic
Then review it quick
I'll send you heart-shaped cookies
And lots of pokey sticks
And then I'll write you…..
ANOTHER CHAPTER!!!!!!
Hitomi woke up slowly to a bird's songs and sunlight. She still felt exhausted, even after a full night of sleep! She tumbled out of her bed and barley managed to keep her feet. Hitomi blearily pulled the clean shirt from the bottom of her bed over her head.
She really did feel terrible. Hitomi had a headache, her face was hot and flushed, and the light in her beautiful bedroom hurt her eyes. She groggily slipped her tennis shoes onto her feet and headed down to the kitchen to get some water, not truly awake or thinking of anything at all.
Ugh! How many times had she tripped over that stair? Who would be stupid enough to put a stair around a corner? What she would give to give that idiot a piece of her mind…
"Hitomi!" Allen exclaimed as she ran into him. "Be careful!" Hitomi tried to keep her eyes open while she muttered an apology, and for the first time noticed Millerna and Selena.
Hitomi barely noticed something amiss. Allen's expression was black as a storm cloud, Millerna's face was a furious red, and Selena was pretending to be oblivious of everything, but the leaves on the trees, outside the window.
"Do you know where Van is? We've been looking for him everywhere!" Allen snapped curtly. "Since he doesn't bother to inform us where he is going to be, maybe you would know," he continued waspishly.
Allen's attitude had finally soaked into Hitomi's fuzzy awareness, "Calm down, Allen," she groaned. "I haven't see Van since-----" Hitomi frowned and said without thinking, "Wait a sec."
She 'tugged' on the bridge/rope in her head that connected her to Van. He 'saw' her and smiled, the vision sending with his image a peaceful picture of tranquil sunlight and trees surrounding his brother's grave.
"He's at his brother's grave. He wants to know why you were looking for him," Hitomi sighed, wishing that she could just go back to bed.
Allen, Selena, and Millerna stared at Hitomi in a taught silence. All of them were unable to twitch a muscle.
I knew Van and Hitomi had a special bond, but do I actually believe that they can talk to each other in their heads? Millerna asked herself.
"T-tell Van that suspicious representatives have come unannounced to Fanalia. We think that they are the two you predicted, Hitomi," Allen choked out. Hitomi leaned against the wall and sighed again.
Suddenly Selena was beside her and gripping her shoulder. "Are you feeling well, Lady Hitomi?" she asked in concern.
Hitomi gave her a beautiful sleepy smile, "I'm fine, Selena. Just a little tired."
"Just what we need," Aronic appeared behind them and threw up her hands. "Not only do I find myself in charge of organizing a banquet, finding all the food, clothing, tapestries, Hitomi looks like she's going to keel over!" She exclaimed in exasperation.
"You," her eyes pinned on Millerna and Selena. "Do you have any idea where Merchant Dryden's guild crown is? It seems to have gone missing and I suspect that a 'practical joke' was played. Hmm? Maybe to get a little revenge for putting the allergy weed in the women's wine?" Millerna blushed and dropped her eyes and Selena shifted her feet and tried to stifle a smile.
Millerna cleared her throat and declared, "Perhaps you should try looking behind the tapestry of the market place, in the first greeting hall."
"Perhaps Lord Dryden should learn to take some of his own medicine," Selena muttered behind her hand. Aronic through up her hands again.
"Good grief," Hitomi heard Allen mutter. Hitomi leaned more of her weight against the wall and thought that even if the wall was a bit hard and cold, this wouldn't be a terrible place to fall asleep….
"Hitomi!"
"Y-yes?" She sighed.
Aronic took her hand, "You're falling asleep on you feet, Child!" She scolded affectionately. "Come with me and I'll get you all fixed up," she said as she position herself at Hitomi's side and led her back up the hall.
"By the way," Aronic asked. "What clothing do you own on Gaea? Where on the Mystic Moon are we going to find you ball clothes?"
Hitomi tripped over that jinxed step again.
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"Rianne?"
"What?" The Empress of the Last Draconians snapped at Kyrell.
"The twin ¼ bloods have reached the Fanalian Palace. Our spy is in place. She begins to suspect, though, Your Majesty," He told her with his head bowed.
"Does she?" Rianne mused. "I wouldn't put it above Aronic. She comes from a very proud line of the Healer Guilds. I imagine she already had pieced together our plans. She just gave that girl a draft to clog all clairvoyant senses. Aronic must have guessed that the girl from the Mystic Moon has the ability to pick up tensions in the air, and was becoming affected without even realizing it."
"Surly, she will still send her back, Your Highness!" Kyrell exclaimed.
"Of course she will!" Rianne fumed. "She has no choice! She knows she is just a pawn on the board, just another piece of destiny! Even if she refused to send her, fate would still take her back to the Mystic Moon, one way or another! It is hers, and our, one true destiny," She reminded him. Commanding him, willing him, forcing him to believe their fate. What was destiny, if not a collision of fate? All of her subjects, even Kyrell, were convicted to believe that she was the one true fate.
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"A pillar of light? Just what do you mean?" Amano demanded as Yukari gasped and drew back.
"Just like I said! She met that guy, the one who had set her house on fire, then all of the sudden the room was full of blue light and she was gone!" Aoki burst out.
"She-she went back," Yukari whispered.
"What?" Amano turned to her. "She went back where, Yukari?" His eyes pleaded to her to make some sense of this as he grasped her hand tightly.
"Back to that guy----back to that world!" Yukari cried.
"What guy? What world?" Aoki reached over to try and shake her, but Amano shot him a menacing look.
"Three years ago, Hitomi was running on the track trying to break 13 seconds. Then all of a sudden…all of a sudden…a light appeared, a blue light! The same thing had happened!" Yukari explained.
Why did everything seem so foggy? When Hitomi had been here, the memory had been as sharp as the day it had happened. Why is it now she could barley get the words out? "Hitomi---Hitomi told me that she went to a different world…and…and fell in love! She said, 'It was her war.' Something----something…..I forget," she admitted shamefaced. "I just can't remember," she cried, putting a hand in front of her eyes.
"It's ok, Yukari," Amano reassured her, but she could see the disbelief in his eyes. "Maybe she'll come back soon." Aoki looked like he wanted to hit him.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
"Come on, Hitomi! Everyone's waiting for you!" Merle tapped her foot impatiently. Hitomi turned to frown at Merle from where she had been peeking around the great archway that led to the ballroom.
"But----" Hitomi tried to form an excuse.
"Oh! Don't be ridiculous! You look fine! You're going to have to come out sometime!" she ordered in a 'no nonsense' voice.
"I---"
"GO!" Merle gave her a shove and Hitomi went stumbling down the short stairway. She stopped in the middle of the light and blushed till she thought all her blood vessels would burst. She seemed rooted to the spot when Van first saw her.
…………………….
He couldn't seem to close him mouth, which had popped open from astonishment.
She was gorgeous. Hitomi seemed to stand in her own celestial light. The dress she was wearing had once been his mother's. A faint voice in the back of his head was surprised he had even recognized it.
It had been his mother's favorite. It was brilliant white and flowing, with tiny seed pearls sewn in to all the embroidery covering the dress.
Hours and hours of work on creating the dress had turned out spectacularly, with glittering white pictures of wings, feathers and moonlight. The unearthly fabric floated like a mist off of Hitomi's shoulders, giving the illusion of wings. The only contrast to the brilliant white color was a bright sash that was a lush forest green. Small red gems littered the sash's fabric and look like tragic blood tears.
Her heightened color made her skin glow, and the green sash brought out her eyes so vividly that they looked like green emeralds, sparkling and shining.
He didn't even realize he was heading towards her till they were all most face to face. The formal instinct bred into kings finally took the place of his shock and he gave her a boyish grin. Van bowed slightly and offered his hand to Hitomi.
She smiled back weekly, and placed her hand in his. Why was she so embarrassed? Didn't she know how beautiful she was?
My mother loved that dress. She wore it to spite my Father's advisors who hadn't wanted their King to be married to a Draconian. She glanced up at him in surprise.
Your mother's!? You mean this dress is… He shrugged, uncomfortable.
He avoided the question and led her to the dance floor where captivating music floated around the couples dancing.
"Dance with me?" he asked, in his opinion, switching one embarrassing question for another.
"Ah—sure," she said, surprised. Van chuckled at the stares she was getting from the people who were closest to them.
What is it? Hitomi inquired in perplexity.
Their noble pride has been offended. They expected to hear, 'Of course, You Majesty, I would be honored,' Van answered. Hitomi hesitated and reddened more, if it was possible.
Opps!
Van, I don't know if this is a good idea. I don't even know how to dance! What if I make some terrible mistake?
You'll be fine. Hitomi was inclined to disagree. They reached the edge of the mosaic tile of the dance floor. Van listened intently to the music for a second, then brought the hand he was holding up to his shoulder, and wrapped his free arm around her waist.
At the feel of her so close to him, his heart began to thud a little harder. Swaying gently to the music he led her through the intricate steps it had taken him hours to learn as a little boy.
Suddenly she tripped and went sprawling into him. She gasped in mortification. Blood rushed to his face, as he caught her and stopped in the middle of the floor. Maybe he had had too much wine. He felt intoxicated. It must be wine, or adrenaline making his blood boil, right?
He really liked the feeling of her collapsed in his arms. For eternity, he seemed to stare into her eyes, entranced by the fathomless depths…till someone accidentally bumped into his shoulder with an unpleasant jolt.
The offender turned, "I'm so sorry! Oh, Your Highness. I was looking for you."
It turned out to be a girl. He noticed dispassionately that she was very pretty. She peeked up at him through thick lashes that covered huge sky blue eyes, and made shadows against flawless alabaster skin. Her blond hair curled coyly around her shoulders, as she smiled with flirtatious mischief. However pretty she seemed on initial encounter though, Hitomi's beauty out shone her like a candle to the erupting sun at dawn.
"I just wanted a word, You Majesty, but if you are already engaged…" Hitomi pushed herself out of his arms immediately and back up a pace. She looked humiliated.
"No," she said coolly. "Please excuse me." She turned and strode off the floor. Van opened his mouth and reached out a hand to stop her but the other girl grabbed his other hand and curtsied.
"A word, please, My Lord?" She tucked her arm around his and led him off the floor.
"My name is Serena, King Van. I have something of great importance to tell you," she said, mysteriously.
Van mind instantly ran over everything that could have gone wrong. Had there been an attack? Where was his sword? With his free hand he groped for the hilt of his weapon. 'Serena' saw and giggled.
"No, Your Highness, I just have a message for you pleasure alone," she purred. She led him to a privet corner of the room, right in front of two massive glass doors, which led to a balcony.
She sighed. "Aren't the stars beautiful tonight, Majesty?" she asked dramatically. Van nodded and fidgeted, wondering just what this girl's message was.
She invited him out onto the balcony. He followed only reluctantly, feeling like his head was stuffed too full.
Serena led him to a bench that overlooked most of Fanalia. "It's such a perfect night," she whispered.
All of a sudden she was leaning close, and her eyes fluttered closed…
……………………………………………………………………………
Hitomi snapped her consciousness out of Van's with a yank. She didn't believe it!
How could he? Her breath came out in short gasps. In his defense, she had felt his shock, his feelings of repulsion, but still!
"What is it, Lady Hitomi?" Selena beseeched. "What's wrong?"
He knew she had seen it! He had felt her retreat! She barely realized that she had whipped around and was striding towards the balcony. She had no idea she could feel this humiliated! This hurt…..
She scarcely realized Selena was hurrying after her, and Allen was trying to make his way to Selena.
Resisting her impulse to crash through them, she quietly opened the huge glass doors. Van was turned, so he saw her coming. His eyes widened and he tried to speak….obviously not quick enough.
Hitomi tapped Serena lightly on the shoulder. She swung around in irritation
"What?" She snapped. She hardly had time to feel astonished when Hitomi fist planted itself in her face with a satisfying crack.
She yelped sharply and tried to cover her profusely bleeding nose. "You little---" She began furiously. Hitomi advanced and her insult fell to an intimidated whimper.
"Get out of here!" Hitomi yelled furiously in her face, watching her cower. Serena spun and all but ran away. She felt all the tension in her head wrap around the girl and start to squeeze, but there was a bell like ringing and it disappeared.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hitomi?" Van began hesitantly. She whipped around and tore out of his grasp.
"How could you?" She cried, her eyes furiously accusing Van. Her fist clenched and trembling. Before she realized what she was doing, Hitomi raised her hand and sharply slapped Van's cheek.
She heard glass ring, and spun. Selena was leaning against the glass door, all the blood gone from her face, and Allen stood, fixed to the spot, gaping. That they had seen Hitomi out of control like this made her feel even worse.
"Hitomi." She turned again slowly this time.
"Aronic," she answered. Aronic looked so sad and disappointed.
"Hitomi, you have just proven that you cannot control your emotions. If I hadn't been here you could have used a reaction backlash to tear that girl's fate to pieces, without even realizing it, " Aronic sighed.
"You cannot stay here. You are still a threat to Gaea's existence. It's time to go back to Earth. This time, without your memory," she finished sadly. She slipped her over shirt off and revealed a short sleeveless shirt under it. Her face furrowed for a second, then gigantic white wings flowed fluidly out of her shoulder blades. Instantly the air was filled with feathers.
Hitomi couldn't breathe. She heard Van behind her, heard him shout silently his disbelief and betrayal to the winds. The dragon was revolting and quickly slipping out of his grasp, screaming in fury, flaming everything it it's path.
………………………………………………….
To Hitomi time had stopped. Everything seemed so peaceful and simple. Aronic pulled a rose colored pendent from under her shirt. Hitomi stared at the bright light that shone of the Atlantian pendent. She couldn't look away. The light was hypnotizing.
Silence.
Silence was good. The light was good.
Hitomi felt like she was floating. She could not see anything. That was good. She couldn't hear anything. That was good. She was going home. That was good, too.
No, something is not good, a voice in the back of her head whispered. She ignored it. She told the inner voice, that small doubt, that everything would be okay.
Relax into the peace, she told it, the silent tranquility.
No, something is NOT good. Something is NOT right, the voice nagged. There is something we are forgetting. Someone we are forgetting.
I don't want to remember, she told the voice. It hurts to remember. I don't want to be hurt again. I'm tired of being hurt.
He hurts too.
He? She questioned the voice. Instead of an answer, impressions and exquisite sensations surrounded her.
Sunshine.
The smell of the field.
Of trees in springtime. Of beautiful swirling colors. Sword roughened hands. Tiny waterfall and torrents.
A single white feather. A gorgeous, content smile. Warmth. Security. Longing.
Love.
VAN! Van! I remember Van! It's NOT right! Where is Van? She told the voice. I need Van! I love Van!
"VAN!" She screamed.
All of a sudden, she arched as a small sun of light burst from her chest. Her vision was blinded by light. The ground was rushing towards her, the wind roaring in her ears.
She felt herself impact with a wet hard ground. She was clutching something with all her might. No, she was holding someone like she would never ever let go.
He was holding her too. Together they lay sprawled in the wet grass, panting, sweating and shuddering. Hitomi distantly realized she was crying, sobbing hysterically. She opened her eyes again, and the dark blotches were beginning to fade.
Van. She was embracing Van. Hitomi was clutching the rough fabric of his red homespun shirt. She sobbed harder when she recognized him, and held him tighter. He held her just as tight, and slowly pushed them off the ground into a sitting position, not bother to untangle their legs.
I'm so sorry! Hitomi sobbed into his head. Please! I never want to do that again!
I'll never let you go! Hitomi felt is rough erratic breathing on her neck. Van looked up from Hitomi's shoulder, stiffened in shock.
"Is this the Mystic Moon?" He choked out.
"Earth," Hitomi breathed in wonder, finally noticing their surroundings. "We're back on Earth."
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So, how's that for a chapter? I hope you enjoyed it! ; )
Disclaimer; I don't own Escaflowne, and no, just because I write poems to ask my readers to review, does NOT mean that I will write poems for my disclaimers. (Chibi-Bozena deletes all the poems she had started for disclaimers, casting dark looks)
As a reviewer also requested me, no author's notes were posted in the middle of the chapter, because they 'broke up the flow'
I've also been informed that I need a new title, and that mine was very unoriginal. (Chibi-Bozena starts to cry) So if you have any ideas please send them to me in your review.
Please do NOT get confused about Aronic, all will be explained in due time, along with Rianne and Kyrell *Chibi-Bozena starts to panic and hyperventilate, so she goes and bakes more heart-shaped cookies*
Next chapter is coming up soon!
P.S. Thank you so much, NachtMusik, for proof-reading and correcting my new chapter! You're the best!