Hi Readers! Welcome to my 19th chapter! I know it's been a really long time, but I've been really busy! I'm sorry it took so long, and, hopefully, life is easing up on me so I can write the next faster! I've been given some really great ideas for a new title for my fic. Pick one, and review me to tell me which one you like best!
Love, War, and Destiny
Dragons and Draconians
* Forever and ever
Sword of the Draconians
Tears of Fate
* My Love's Reflection
*Blood Soaked Feathers (kudos to this one!)
Please put in the vote for the one you like best!
Disclaimer; I OWN EVERYTHING IN ESCAFLOWNE!!! Wait…no….no, I don't own anything…legally…But I would kill to!!! Sigh….Van….*drools*
All right, I think I feel another poem coming!
I'm sorry it's been so long
And that this poem is not a song
Thank you for being patient with me
So please read this quickly
And tell me what you think
I'll give you a big heart-shaped cookie that is pink
And write you……… ANOTHER CHAPTER!!!!
Thanks a bunch! ^_^ Now on to the next chapter!
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Hitomi pulled in a long deep breath. The air was so sweet. The shade of the huge tree felt pleasant on her warm skin. The sun's warmth gently caressed her cheek. Beneath her the grass was soft. A lethargy older than time had seeped into her limbs.
She heard a heart beat. The warm chest where her cheek lay pillowed against rhythmically rose and fell comfortingly in the deep pattern of sleep. Van lay sprawled underneath her, with his arms wrapped around her waist. She lounged on top of him, watching the patterns made by the sun of the large green leaves. If only she would dream this forever. It was a dream, right?
"In a manner of speaking," said a cool, remote voice behind her. "Here we call it Farrin' airin, but on the Mystic Moon, I suppose you might call it a 'vision,'" continued the cool voice. Hitomi turned her head, looking for the source of the voice; more movement seemed too much of an effort.
"Who are you?" Van was awake, his breathing more erratic. Suddenly, feathers surrounded them. A beautiful Draconian woman appeared in front of them. Her hair was long and black as night, a contrast to her blinding white wings. Autocratic high cheekbones framed cold green eyes.
"I am Rianne. I rule the last of the Draconians. I rule the ruins of the once great Atlantis." The woman turned her bitter gaze to look out at the horizon of the Mystic Valley.
"But that's not possible! The Atlantians destroyed themselves!" Hitomi protested in disbelief.
"No, not all of us. How do you think this boy was born if there were no Draconians left?" Rianne scathingly indicated Van who was propped against the huge Atlantis tree where Hitomi had saved him so long ago.
"What do you want with us?" Van's hands clenched into fists, as he demanded an answer, fire flashing in his deep amber eyes. Hitomi felt the furious dragon in Van's head lashing out in violent warning.
Rianne's face contorted. "Control it!" she snapped. Bright fire lit Van's hot amber glare. Who was this woman, to order him? The proud Draconian reared up to the challenge. Both dragons' temper was on a hair trigger, balancing on the blade of a knife. Hitomi could feel savage rage tearing at the restraints of control on either side of her, pulling at her painfully. The two dragons on either side of her baited each other waiting for the first attack.
Hitomi felt a barrier collapse with a crash. "NO!" She flung a hand out against the flaring tide she felt, but could not see. Hitomi shrieked as she felt like she had been submerged into a river of scorching flames. But, this time, the pain didn't come from Van.
Rianne had let loose the huge, powerful force! She roared in triumph, beating Van down with one terrible strike. As he crumpled, blood flowing, the fire suddenly ceased like it had never been. In the quiet aftermath, Hitomi sank to the ground in shock. Through the roaring in her ears, she heard a seductive voice.
"Hitomi, the Draconians could grant your heart's desire. You want to be with him, right? In the Mystic Valley, you could stay with him forever. Power, balance, fate, even mortality wouldn't matter anymore. Come to me, Hitomi."
…………………………………………………….
She cried out as she bolted upright. Hitomi fell back gasping in pain. Her skin was bright red and burned.
"Hitomi! You're awa----ahhh! Hitomi what happened? Are you alright?" Yukari was walking passed the room to check on Hitomi. She took a double take and rushed inside the room to Hitomi's bedside, falling to her knees, afraid to touch her.
Hitomi started and Yukari gasped when the heard a yell and a crash in the background.
"What the…just what do you think you're doing? Ouch! Hey, calm down!" They heard a crash and a thud followed by a yelp of pain. "She's in the bedroom with Yukari!"
Van, breathing heavily, appeared at the doorframe, sagging and using it to support his weight. Deep red blood dripped down from his forehead, exactly where he had been bleeding in the dream.
"Yukari!" Amano and Aoki hurried towards the bedroom and moved warily passed Van, eyeing him darkly. There was a large bruise forming around Aoki's left eye and Amano was limping slightly.
Hitomi!
Yes? she whispered back, her voice in his head terribly feint.
You…I was… did you hear/see at the end of the dream?
What do you mean?
It's Fanalia! It's under attack! The entire United Army is laying my country under siege! Didn't she show you? She told me Fanalia would burn to the ground again! Gaea is going to war again! Hitomi gasped and drew back, shaking her head at the same time.
No, no! I didn't see/hear anything! Hitomi partially lied. Van wouldn't want to hear what Rianne had said to her, especially not now!
War, again? How could that be? Who was instigating an attack against Fanalia, who had stood only for peace? Why had Van and her seen two different things? Was that even possible?
Hitomi tried frantically to hide her speeding questions from Van. For some reason, she didn't want him to know what Rianne had said to her.
Or maybe you don't want him to know how tempted you are, said a small, snide voice in the back of her head.
No! No. I know it's a lie, Hitomi squashed the thought down. I know it's not possible, but…. And in a small corner of her head, Hitomi let herself fantasize of what could have been. A world where she and Van could be together in peace.
She knew she couldn't stay on Gaea. Hitomi could feel that whenever she touched the pendent, a balance went wildly out of whack. A world where no one would try to separate them, where power didn't matter---where even mortality didn't matter.
Hitomi jumped in pain when she realized someone was tugging on her injured hand.
"Hitomi? Hitomi! Please tell us what happened!" Yukari shook her once more.
"I---I really don't know, Yukari." Hitomi stared at her burnt hand in wonder. Then Van was at her side, "Hejdo aguassisiim! Nevism shelm par yriptisan Hitomi. Ka iknego otagira!" he shot, frustrated, at Aoki. Aoki stood with his mouth open in confusion. Hitomi whipped around to glare at Van, then turned with an apologetic look at Aoki.
"Aoki? Van would like you to please get some water, clean bandages, and…." Hitomi's brow furrowed in confusion and she tried to illustrate something with her hands. She muttered, "Glar leaves? They don't exist on Earth, Van."
"And salve," Hitomi finished. Amano sat down with a thump on Yukari's pretty white whicker chair. Yukari knelt beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's just so bizarre, Yukari," Amano muttered to her.
"I know," she whispered back. "I don't understand either." Hitomi tried to politely ignore them. She reached into the pocket of her school coat and pulled out a handkerchief. She motioned to Van and he gave a long-suffering sigh, as he obligingly leaned forward while Hitomi gently wiped away the worst of the blood spattering his face.
"I don't understand, Van. I've never been hurt in a vision before. What ever happens is never there when you wake up." Hitomi's faced was etched in worry. Amano shifted restlessly behind her.
"If Yukari won't ask for an explanation, I will, Hitomi," Amano told her stiffly, cradling Yukari's head. "We deserve an explanation! Yukari has been sick with worry!"
"I'm so sorry, Amano. Yukari. I just….don't want to see you hurt. I don't want to ask you to believe something that seems impossible." Hitomi gazed down at her hands, which were clutching Van's. Yukari smiled.
"Well, Hitomi, I don't believe it. I guess you're just going to have to convince me! But…if you're not up to it…I could always ask him to explain!" Yukari grinned acerbically and pointed to Van.
Hitomi grinned, "Trust you, Yukari! But---I'll try to explain, but please…I've never—never tried to…."
"Try me." Yukari crossed her arms.
"Okay," Hitomi was dubious. "But, I guess it started with this." Hitomi reached forward and unclasped the pendent from around Van's neck. He bent his head forward so she could slip the chain over his head.
Amano gasped as the pendent swung in the air. "But, that's----!" Yukari elbowed him.
"It was my grand-ma's. It has powers. It can create a pillar of light that transports you to a different world!" Hitomi stared at the pendent swinging back and forth. Amano looked skeptical. Van snarled at him.
"The world is called Gaea. That night I was running for Amano (Hitomi tried to stifle a blush and failed miserably) Van tried to slay a dragon. You were there." She looked puzzled at Yukari and Amano.
"I don't understand why you don't remember. Yukari sprained her ankle, remember? When Van killed the dragon, we were both sent back to Gaea. But then Zaibach came, and burned Fanalia to the ground! And they killed Balgus! And then when Van resurrected Escaflowne, and we met Allen, Zaibach burned the Asturian outpost down, and---and---" Hitomi stopped her passionate explanation with a jolt. Van was trying to stifle a grin.
"What's so funny?" she demanded. Hitomi glanced over at Yukari and Amano. They were both dumbstruck for about two more seconds.
"What the----"
"A dragon?"
"Who's Zaibach?"
"What is Fanalia? What do you mean it was burned to the ground?"
"Who's Balgus?"
"What in the world is Escaflowne?"
"Resurrected?"
"Who is Allen? Asturian?"
"What are you talking about? Do you actually expect us to believe that?" Amano asked scornfully. Van stopped laughing, but before he could do anything, Yukari stood up with her hands on her hips and cuffed Amano on the head.
"Don't act blind, Amano! You have proof right in front of you!" Yukari gestured to Van. "Look at him! Do you recognize that language he speaks? How come only Hitomi can understand him? Have you ever seen clothes like the ones they were wearing? He has a sword, for goodness sake!" Yukari gave Hitomi a stern look that said "continue and do it more slowly!"
"Van is the King of Fanalia. Fanalia is a country on Gaea," Hitomi continued cautiously. "Zaibach was a country that was trying to destroy all of Gaea. After Van was crowned Zaibach came in their guymelefs and…" Hitomi paused when Yukari raised an eyebrow. She considered, than sent a flashing thought to Van.
What would they understand for guymelef? He thought then sent her an idea.
Oh! Thank you.
"A guymelef is a weapon. It's a huge suit of armor that reacts to a pilot's will. When Zaibach's guymelefs attacked, Van….woke up his guymelef Escaflowne. We ended up meeting ---a lot of people---trying to fight this war," Hitomi glanced down, a little ashamed. "I spent most of the time trying to find a way back home. But, in the end, we defeated Dornkirk,"-Hitomi received another look- , "Um…the emperor of Zaibach. After that I… I had to go back to Earth." Hitomi trailed off.
"Wait," Amano frowned. "Had to go home? You didn't want to? (Yukari sent him one of those Men-are-so-slow-about-these-things looks) Is that…is that why you never used your tarot cards?" he continued.
Hitomi bent her head so Amano couldn't see her burning eyes. "I…I could see the future with them, Amano. But….my anxiety would always choose the worst outcome. I—I caused so much death! Zaibach tried to use me to…" A tear splashed onto Hitomi's burnt red hand, stinging terribly. Van sent Amano a look that would have melted rock, and put his arms around Hitomi, gently cradling her. She gratefully leaned into him for support, her forehead resting on his shoulder.
"There is a race on Gaea called the Draconians," Hitomi's voice was muffled against Van's chest. "We thought they had destroyed themselves, but we were wrong. I think that they are trying to start another war. I think---I think they must be tired of being demons. I guess no one realized that the Draconians had banished themselves when they created Gaea. They knew that they couldn't be gods again without fate repeating itself."
Of course, Van thought. Blind! We were completely blind! That's how Dornkirk….how mother….
"Oh, Hitomi! Why didn't you tell anyone?" Yukari reached out to her and Van relinquished one hand.
Hitomi gave Yukari a dry look, "What was I supposed to say? You hardly believe me now! Besides, it wouldn't have made any difference. I still can't…"
Stay in Gaea. With Van.
There was a huge clatter as Aoki dropped everything he had been carrying. Before anyone had realized his intentions, Aoki pick the wooden tray and heaved it at the wall. Van jumped up with a cry, reaching for a sword that wasn't there.
"Aoki, please!" Hitomi beseeched him when she saw his betrayed expression. How long had he been listening?
Hitomi felt terrible. She hadn't wanted to involve him in this. He had always been her little brother's best friend, and she knew he idolized her. Puppy love. Hitomi hadn't thought how hard it would be for him. For all he had known his best friend and first crush were dead with the rest of her family. And now he found out that they were probably trapped on a world that didn't exist. And that Hitomi, who he idolized, was in love with someone else.
"Prove it. Prove it! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" he screamed, hurling a pitcher of water in her general direction. As if in slow motion, Hitomi saw the heavy porcelain heading strait for her head, she felt…oh, no! He wouldn't!
Van! DON'T! It's not worth…
With a terrifying scream of savage rage, the dragon arched his back and the huge white wings erupted from his shoulder blades. His beautiful glowing feathers made the air thick. Van slammed the pitcher out of the air, sending it to explode against the wall. A strange gasping keening scream came from the corner of the room. Yukari was cowering, terrified, behind Amano who was standing in front of Yukari but looked like he was going to feint.
Van's eyes were dark, and his shoulders heaved. The remains of his ripped red tunic were drenched in sweat. He radiated an out of control, murderous power. Van took a menacing step forward, towards Aoki. The ground shook, and the room seemed to be falling apart. Gusts blew through his night black hair violently, and the powerful muscles of his back and his wings clenched and flexed.
Aoki looked like he had seen death. He shook, unable to move a step, like a cornered animal of prey. One of Van's hands clenched and he raised the other with no weapon in it. Van didn't need a weapon. As soon as his crazed glare locked with Aoki's terrified one Aoki was blasted back into the hallway by some unseen force.
No. One. Will. Hurt. Hitomi.
"VAN! I'm fine! No, please!" Hitomi flung herself at Van. She threw her entire weight at him and his arms closed around her convulsively.
"No, please! I'm fine, Van. I'm okay! Please, Van. You don't have to do this! I know you will regret this. Please. Please! You're not like her. You are not Rianne." She felt the furious beserker leave her beloved. Hitomi discovered her face was wet with tears. A drop of water splashed onto her cheek. Hitomi looked up into Van's tortured amber gaze. Soon all she could see was bright amber slits hidden by thick dark lashes that sparkled with tears. Van tilted his head down till his forehead was pressed against hers.
They stayed like they for a long, long time.
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"Allen! Allen! BORTHER!!! Where are you?" Selena ran through the wood-sided hallways. A door slid open and her blond brother stepped quickly into the hallway.
"Selena? What is it?" Allen's brows drew together in concern. Selena doubled over gasping for breath.
"We're----under attack! ----Fanalia is---boxed in! The United Nations---has us----surrounded!" Selena wheezed.
"What?!" Allen shouted. "Selena! Take over guard duty! I'm reporting to Sharazad!" Allen took of at a run and Selena paused, casting a sour expression at his retreating back, then opened the door to the room Allen had been guarding.
"Hello, Selena."
"Aronic." Selena looked everywhere but at the Draconian woman.
"I've missed seeing your smile everyday," Aronic smiled sadly at Selena. Selena's eyes snapped to Aronic's sharp eyes.
"Why didn't you just summon me to you? You didn't mind sending Lady Hitomi to anywhere you pleased!" Selena spat.
Aronic sighed, "Selena----." She shook her head, and switched to a dangerous topic. "How many times have you seen a Draconian's wings?"
"What?" Selena asked in complete confusion. "Only you, I guess….um….Lord Van, also."
Aronic turned to look out the window, from the small bench where she sat. "And when did you learn that Van was a Draconian?"
"I had heard rumors," Selena looked down. "But I didn't want to believe them. The---the first time I saw Lord Van's wings was the day I first met you." There was a long pause. Aronic gave a small smile when the sunlight played gently against her face and she heard a birdsong in the distance.
"Do you believe that the Draconians are demons? That we are completely evil?"
Selena stuttered, "Well---I---I was brought up to believe that the Draconians were so evil, that they entranced my father and he left us for them….that's what my brother said. But after meeting Lord Van, I know it can't be true."
"Selena-----," Aronic stood up and approached her slowly. She firmly placed her hands on Selena's slumped shoulders. "Sometimes I takes more strength to believe in someone than to fight and dismiss them so easily." (A/N; I am so stealing Allen's lines!)
Selena's head snapped up, "But that's what my –brother says!"
"Gaea was built by the strength of will. If you believed, maybe this would all turn out well in the end."
"I don't understand," Selena cried in frustration, ripping out from Aronic's grasp. "What may turn out well in the end?"
"Thousands of years ago, the Atlantians lived on the Mystic Moon," Aronic began in a soft voice. "They had a machine that turned their thoughts into energy. But they became too powerful. They were omnipotent and still wanted more power. In the end, they destroyed themselves. But---It seems that it wasn't known that a few Draconians survived. After the creation of Gaea, we transported ourselves to the newly made Gaea."
"Unfortunately, we realized when we arrived, that if we stayed, history would repeat itself. We would become gods over men once again and Gaea would be consumed too. So, our leader Rianne made the decision that we would live as man's demons, banished forever from our rightful home.
For 380 years we were content to live as such, until---," Aronic paused and sighed. "You must realize how powerful a Draconian is. As powerful as we are alone, our power is tripled when we find a love to share our lives with. When our leader, Rianne, left Earth, she was life-bonded to a Draconian named Guyan. 50 years after we had arrived on Gaea, a mortal man killed Guyan. Rianne has become a warrior of revenge ever since. She wants to destroy the world of men and take our rightful place in Gaea.
Not all of the Draconians agree with her. There is a secret group called 'the Resistance' that sends agents like me under Rianne. I discovered that she transported a mortal man, Isaac Newton, known as Dornkirk, and given him the designs of the Fate Alteration Machine. It was beyond even her! I had no idea she would be so foolish just to strike back at the race of men!
It turns out that her careful planning was destroyed, when an up-start king and a girl from the Mystic Moon somehow defeated the machine. For the last 3 years, her new target has been Lord Van and Lady Hitomi. She used the original Fate Alteration Machine to resurrect Dillandua, to watch and eventually separate Hitomi from Van and capture her. (Selena's eyes widened)
Rianne is going to attack the unguarded back of Gaea's people while they are distracted by the war starting now. She is going to capture Hitomi and torture her to the point where Rianne can erupt Hitomi's Destiny Recoil on all the armies she has grouped in one spot with her traitors and spies." Aronic paused, saying softly to herself, "Oh, Hitomi. I'm so sorry. I just don't understand. How could you be so powerful? Just an ordinary girl. How can someone with the powers of a Draconian inhabit a weak human body? It just doesn't make sense!"
Selena's mouth moved but no sound came out. She groped behind her and found the bench by the window in which she sunk into.
One random thought came into focus, "You were there? 380 years ago? Just how old are you?!"
"Oh!" said Aronic, looking surprised. "Didn't you know? Draconians have a life span of 3,000 years. I am 1,804 years old."
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"Commander!" Gaddes shouted. "It's about time!"
"Gaddes, report." Allen shaded his eyes with a hand. The sun was shining directly on the outpost, making the armies in the distance ominous shadows.
"It's all of the countries from the Great War. Even Asturia is out there!" Gaddes gestured in anger and disbelief.
"What? Impossible! Queen Eris and Princess Millerna are here, in Fanalia! Who in the world could order an attack without them?"
"That's not all," Gaddes plunged on. "Look who is leading the siege," He spat in disgust. Gaddes held up a long brass spyglass off the table next to him and handed it to Allen. "Right there."
Allen stared into the glass where Gaddes had pointed. "No! Bastard!" Allen pounded his fist on the table. "It's them!"
The contrasting blond and black heads of Serena and Riven were standing in front of the collected forces, leading the siege.
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Hitomi sighed and put down her empty tea glass back on the table. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. The sun was just warm enough to be pleasant on her still tender skin.
She, Yukari, Amano, Aoki and Van were all sitting at the patio of The Colored Parrot. It was hard to believe that it was only this morning that terrible dream, and ….everything else. Leave it to Yukari to be the one to try and brighten everything up. This outing had been her idea. Well, it had helped to relieve some of the tension between Van and Aoki.
Speaking of whom…. Van was looking distinctly uncomfortable, especially in Amano's borrowed clothing. He looked so handsome, Hitomi couldn't help but thinking, with his disheveled black hair and unusual brooding eyes. Van was just borrowing a track jacket and some jeans, but somehow he seemed to keep his dark, charming air of a King.
Answering Van's questions had given Hitomi special pleasure. Right now he was fascinated by a small plate set in front of him. The waitress had caught him staring at it and she had just smiled and brought it over. It was just Japanese china, but she winked and said, "A foreigner, eh? He can look at it for a while! The boss won't mind 'cause she sure loves the cute ones!" The saucy girl winked again. Hitomi had turned a violent red, but Van had been completely oblivious (he didn't understand Japanese) and had given her a sheepish smile back.
"How is it so smooth?"
"What?" Hitomi asked absently. She hadn't been listening.
"How is the plate so smooth?" Van asked again.
Hitomi thought for a moment, "Well, they are made by…um….machines that sand each piece smooth. They used to be hand made." Van nodded gently tracing the design with a finger.
"Will you tell him to stop?!" Aoki hissed. Yukari elbowed him.
"So," Amano put his elbows on the table and leaned forward. "What are you going to do now?"
"What do you mean?" Hitomi asked uncomfortably.
"He can't stay here," Amano glanced at Van. "He doesn't even want to stay. If he goes, will you go with him? I mean, your family--" Hitomi's eyes became bright and Amano looked embarrassed at his own tactlessness.
"I---I don't know, Amano." Van's attention fell off of the plate and focused on her. "We…we can't be separated, but I just…just can't be on Gaea, no matter if I wanted to be there or not. I'm too much of a danger to everyone there. Besides, right now, I don't even know if we can get back." The angle of Hitomi's shoulders dropped even lower.
"Oh! Oh! Hi!" A girl who looked strangely familiar was waving at their table. She tapped a boy next to her on the shoulder and pointed at Van. She ran over tugging the boy along after her, with a group of friends following.
"Wow! It's you, right? The ones from the costume party?" she asked with a grin.
"Oh!" Hitomi's eyes flew wide. "Y—Yes."
"They were some of the best I've ever seen! Where did you get your sword?" The girl asked Van, blushing a little bit. "He's so adorable!" she whispered in Yukari's ear. The boy she was with looked affronted, then he turned to Van.
"Yeah, it looked so real!" Van looked completely lost, glancing back and forth suspiciously at the girl and the boy.
The girl blinked, "Doesn't he understand?" Van chose that point to speak.
"Ialamaf t'nseod dnatsrednu? Aidty leintras zmxnv," he burst out. Hitomi jumped and slapped a hand over his mouth.
"He—he doesn't understand Japanese! A…um….foreign exchange student!" Hitomi blushed guilty.
"Really?" Asked the girl, even more intrigued. "Oh, how stupid of me! I should introduce myself. I'm Hikaru and this is Kazuki! Where do you come from?" she asked Van.
Uh-oh! Gotta think fast!
"Sri Lanka." Hitomi stared at Aoki. "It's an Arabic language." What was Aoki doing?
"Really?" Kazuki asked incredulously. "They have an exchange program?"
You could see the lightning fast thoughts speed through Aoki's head. "Yes, it's an American program. He also is learning English!" Aoki tried a friendly smile. The girl squealed excitedly.
"For real?! I just bought a CD in English!" She reached into her backpack and pulled out a silver CD player. "Maybe he can translate!" The girl pulled the headphones out to and reached to put them into Van's ears.
Van shouted and leapt back, toppling the chair and falling backwards with a thump. His had groped at his side comically, looking for a sword that wasn't there.
"Whoa! Are you okay?" The girl tried to rush forward, but Van just fled farther backwards.
"Hitomi! Csrypta!" Van shouted at Hitomi. Hitomi made frantic shushing motions with her hands, then looked around for something to throw. He was making a scene for goodness sakes! She spotted the empty tea mug.
"Van, catch!" And she tossed the cup in his direction. Van snagged the cup, forgetting Hikaru for an instant, intent on saving the precious pottery. A second was all Hitomi needed. She was at his side, yanking on his arm.
"I'm sorry! I guess it's just confusing for him! There is a compact translator in my bag. We'll go get it." Hitomi smiled and left the shocked couple and her friends in the dust. She quickly made her way through the back of the restaurant, tugging Van behind her. It was the exact same way she had taken to escape Dillandua.
Hitomi burst out of the backdoor of the restaurant. "What were you doing?" she demanded.
"What?!" Van growled indignantly.
"She wasn't trying to hurt you, Van!" He grit his teeth and clenched a fist.
I'm sick of this! I want to go back to Gaea! I need to get back to Fanalia!
What am I supposed to do?
I don't care what you do! Just get me out of this crazy place!
How am I supposed to do that? Hitomi demanded furiously
How did you get to Gaea in the first place?! Van was breathing hard. Hitomi wasn't breathing at all.
I don't know. Dilandua had just attacked my family, and burnt my house to the ground. Emotion was gone completely from Hitomi's voice now. All the doors in her head were sealed off against Van. Van looked abashed.
Hitomi. I—I didn't mean…
It's fine! Hitomi interrupted abruptly. She strode forward and grabbed one of his hands. She placed it exactly where the white draconian feather hung around her neck and pressed her palm into the pendent around his neck. Hitomi didn't really understand what she was doing, but she had this feeling…
Take us back to Gaea! Hitomi thought fiercely.
I want to go back to Gaea!
TAKE US NOW! Van cried.
Blinding light. There it was the pillar of light! But…it wasn't taking them up, it was bringing someone down. Hitomi gasped and stepped back.
"It's you!" Rianne stood before them. Her wings filled all available space and her beautiful billowing robes blew out behind her. She was even more breath taking in person, with her long shining back hair and her bright acid green eyes contrasting so starkly with the glowing white of her wings.
She smirked, "Almost. It was a worthy attempt."
"What do you want?" Van demanded, his hand groping for a hilt of a sword.
"Why, you of course. I think it would be best if you both came with me."
"Why should we?" Hitomi cried in a shrill voice. Rianne frowned.
"Hmm…." She sighed and waved her hand. "Because if you don't I will kill all of your loved ones." All of a sudden Yukari, Amano and Aoki were in the back alleyway with them. Then---they were gone…
"No!" Hitomi ran forward at Rianne.
"Hitomi!" Van bolted after her. Then they all vanished in the unearthly blue light.
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How's that for an ending, eh? Like I said, I'm really sorry for making you guys wait this long! I promise the next chapter will be out sooner!
Disclaimer; No, I don't own it…yadda yaddy yadda, and yes, *Van, drool *
I would appreciate it so much if you would review! I'm with you! I can't wait to see what happens to Van and Hitomi! (who knows what those Draconians are up to?)
See you there!
P.S. Thank you so much, Nachtmusik, for proof reading my story! You are a true friend! *Chibi-Bozena and Chibi-Van BOTH blow you a big kiss! * ^_^