Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne. I am not making money off of this.
Author's Notes: Hi, Countess of Hannart here. This is my first Esca story I've posted but my second all together. Please read this and review! It would make me so happy. I'll get more chapters up if people like it. Otherwise I won't bother. This idea came to me while I was Christmas shopping. I saw a stuffed horse and I thought to myself that it was the horse version of Van! So anyway, please review! Thank you!
Chapter One – A New Companion
Why did this always happen to him? Van sharply turned the corner, losing a little of his valuable speed. 'Got to get away,' he thought desperately as he dodged across the street, narrowly avoiding a few passing cars. Several honks and a small string of profanity floated behind him but that was the least of Van's worries. He was sick of playing cat and mouse with them. If Van could have, he would have laughed at the irony of that phrase. Maybe later but not now. He skidded into a narrow alleyway but immediately regretted it. A tall chain link fence blocked it off. 'Now what?'
His reddish brown eyes scanned the small alley. Their calls were coming nearer. A large green trash bin leaned against the fence. 'Bingo,' Van thought as he once again picked up speed. In a second, he was over the fence with two powerful leaps and leaving behind his hunters.
Van took a zigzagging route just to make sure they weren't following him still. When he was sure he was well away, he slowed down to see where he was. Fancy houses lined the street. Brick walls surrounded some and trees lined the well-kept lawns. He was on the richer side of the residential area. Not a place Van really would want to hang around. When most people saw him, they turned their noses upwards and avoided him as if he was a piece of garbage someone had dropped on the ground. Some were worse though.
A large yawn chased away those thoughts. Stretching to try to soothe his sore muscles, Van decided he really needed a bath and a nap and right here was as good as any as long as he kept it short. So with a beautiful grace, Van leaped onto a nearby ledge and sat down. He started to clean his face as best he could. When he found it satisfactory, he moved onto his paws and long tail. Being a stray cat wasn't the most enjoyable thing but at least he got by and once he finished his cleaning, he hunkered down to a nice peaceful sleep in the afternoon sun, a small golden ring shining against his black fur, hanging by a string on his neck.
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It was a beautiful day but Hitomi Kanzaki felt anything but cheery. She was just a teen trying to get through high school. And to get through high school, it seemed that the teachers thought they had to do five hours of homework each night. Hitomi hated getting so much homework. She knew the teachers were only trying to prepare them for the final exams that year but it was fall and they weren't until spring. Besides, Hitomi also had a part-time job so she could pay for her food and other needed material things as well as for recreation and school. Hitomi was seventeen and in her last year of high school. Her family had moved but let her stay to finish her last year. They had gotten her a small apartment for her to stay in. It was nice but sometimes Hitomi just felt lonely sometimes. She needed someone to tell the thoughts she had bottled up inside her sometimes.
Hitomi's school was located on the other side of town from her apartment and had to leave early in the morning so she could get there on time. Sometimes, on beautiful days like today, Hitomi enjoyed walking by the fancier houses on her way home. They looked so comfortable surrounded by the blooming flowers and large trees. Today, though Hitomi was growing tired from walking. With mathematical equations and her history paper floating around in her head, Hitomi slid off her backpack and leaned back onto a short nearby wall, not noticing its furry occupant.
**
Van had been sleeping peacefully, dreaming of happier days, when something sharp poked into his side, waking him up, hissing and spitting at the attacker. A sandy haired, green-eyed girl whirled around after accidentally elbowing him in the side, the zipper from her windbreaker nearly smacking him in the face. He hopped from the wall and ran around the corner, away from the human girl.
**
Hitomi's heart thumped loudly against her chest. What was that, a cat? Math problems were causing her too be unintentionally cruel to poor defenseless animals. She knew school was evil in some way or another. It was evil to the victims of the stress filled students. Hitomi sighed. The cat had given her quite a fright with its hissing but had not harmed her in any other way. It seemed the cat had gone back to its home and she should too. Hitomi picked up her backpack once again, forgetting all about the cat.
**
The girl was leaving which was good. Van scolded himself for being as foolish as falling into a deep sleep in broad daylight. Ah well, it could have been worse. It could have been animal control or something. Van shivered at that thought. He stretched his slightly stiff limbs, gave his head a little shake and noticed that it felt a little lighter, as if a weight had been taken off his neck. But that couldn't be possible. He only had his ring and he never took it off so...
Van whipped back around the corner and saw a flash of gold. He looked down for he was always able to see the edge of the ring when he did this but he saw nothing. 'Dammit,' he cursed inwardly. Somehow or another, when that zipper almost hit him in the face, it had managed to catch on his ring. And now that girl was walking away with it. Well, he would just have to follow her. Although he didn't like the idea, Van was prepared to use claws and teeth if necessary. Anything to get back his one precious memory of his family.
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Hitomi lazily searched around in her backpack for her keys. Within a few moments, she found them in her jumble of papers and books, and opened the apartment buildings front door. A streak of black sped by her, the second big shock she'd had that day. The blur stopped and faced her and Hitomi found herself looking into a pair of beautiful reddish brown cat eyes.
"Are you that cat I scared? Did you follow me home?" Hitomi asked of the creature feeling a little silly. Of course the cat wouldn't answer back. It didn't even understand her so how could she expect it to speak? She bent down, beckoning to it while softly cooing, "Here kitty. Come on."
**
Van carefully crept closer, his eyes never leaving the girl's. He was just a foot away when he glanced at his ring. Taking a few more steps, he swiped at it.
**
Startled, Hitomi stood up. As she did so, she noticed a small item fall from her. She bent to pick it up but they cat scratched her, causing the item to fall back down. The cat snatched it up between its teeth and tried to leave the building but Hitomi had already closed the door.
Giggling, Hitomi once again bent down and ran a hand down the furry back. The cat didn't move so she continued to pet it. "What's your name? I suppose you have an owner somewhere waiting for you to come home," she said a little sadly. She liked this cat. It was, well, different than any she had met. "Let's see where you're from." With that she picked up the cat trying to find a collar of some sort.
**
When Van was picked up, he dropped the ring. He couldn't help it. The petting had shocked him so much that he froze and now he was being picked up. It wasn't roughly or anything. She had a gentle touch and Van liked it. He had once told himself that he would never like any petting whatsoever. So much for that resolution. But when he heard her speak, it was like she was talking to a human and not just some mangy animal. He relaxed in her arms.
**
Hitomi could not find any collar on the small creature. A smile crossed her face as she felt him relax. She hadn't checked the gender of the cat yet but it just felt as if it should be male. Seeing the small gold item on the ground, she crouched and picked it up, one arm still holding the cat. It was a small ring. Engraved on the inside was To Our Beloved Van.
"Van?" Hitomi murmured. The cat turned his head to look at her. "Are you this beloved Van?" The cat continued to look at her. "Well, I might as well call you Van for now." As the two looked at each other, Hitomi thought the name Van suited the cat.
**
Van was entranced by the way this girl said his name. She said it with a voice full of caring. He didn't mind being held. He didn't mind when she scratched his head. He didn't mind being with her. For once in a long time, Van felt that he was more than just a stray.
"You look hungry," the girl continued to say. "How about you stay with me until we find your owners, Van?" A hand came over his head and down his back.
A sound came out. It surprised him. It was a purr. How long had it been since he last purred?
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"Here you go," Hitomi said as she arranged a blanket and pillow for Van. "I'll get some food for you also. I suppose meat for one meal won't be too bad for you." She got out two bowls, some leftover turkey, and got down to work. A giggle escaped when Van jumped up to the counter to see what she was doing.
A thought crossed her mind. What if Van was one of those cats that nobody wanted? If that were so, how long would she be able to take care of him? Hitomi had no clue as to what a cat cost, but that flew out of her mind almost instantly. Who could not love and want Van? He was just the sweetest thing. She would have to call the newspaper and post a found ad.
**
Van watched the girl prepare his meal. She seemed so kind, but he was still afraid. Who knew, maybe tomorrow she would throw him out on the street. For some strange reason, he didn't want that. But it would be better for him if she did in the long run.