"So you see, gentlemen, that is our predicament.
Any thoughts and/or ideas are thoroughly welcomed." Van sat at the head
of what was left of the conference table. About 5 advisors sat alongside
him. Van had just come to explain about Hitomi being unable to return to
the Mystic Moon.
The noblemen huddled together and began whispering
[
The advisor with the long grey beard and mustache
stood up. The teen in red immediately recognized him as being someone he
had seen in Asturia before.
"Your Majesty," he began with a cough. "We have
formulated what may be the most hopeful idea for the situation."
"I'm all ears."
"Well, Sire, as I was in Asturia a few weeks
ago, I noticed that Lord Folken, your late brother--" Van winced at the
term "late"--"was working consistantly on a project. He recovered some
part of the Vione that led Asturian advisors to believe it had to do with
the power of the DragEnergist crystal in the guymelef Escaflowne, and in
the girl's pendant. From what we have heard, though it may simply be town
rumours, that piece that was recovered from the Floating Fortress is what
caused Lord Folken and the girl to be transported to Zaibach."
"That is correct."
"Lord Folken's lab was left intact. It has not
been touched since his... departure. Perhaps if we used his machine, we
could send miss Kanzaki back to her world?"
Van looked thoughtful for a moment. "You might
have an idea there, Gudevo. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to work such
a piece of equipment."
"We had an idea for that, too." piped up another
advisor.
"Oh?"
"What about Lord Dryden of Asturia, your Highness?
He is known to be quite the technician."
Van rubbed his chin decisively. "Yes, that sounds
like an excellent plan. Where is Dryden at the moment?"
"I believe he is in Daeledus."
"Very well. Is the messenger here?"
"No, Sire, he has not yet returned. Perhaps someone
else may take his place for the time being?"
Van's eyes gleamed. "I know just who might be
interested."
"Me?" the youth's deep brown eyes sparkled.
"But Lord Van, this is such an honor! Surely..."
Van shook his head stubbornly.
"Kayulo, you are known in Fanelia as being the
best 'locator'. Daeledus is a large country, it won't be easy to find Lord
Dryden."
Kayulo turned a bit red, deeply flattered by
the thought of being chosen out of all the citizens of Fanelia to deliver
a message to Lord Dryden. His king handed him the letter, and told him
to give that to the Merchant prince when he found him.
"I'll set out right away!" the catguy beamed.
As if to contradict his motives, the sky suddenly darkened.
"Maybe you should hold off until tomorrow." suggested
Van. "The Gods don't seem pleased with the idea of you going today."
Hitomi shivered slightly. It was cold in Merle's
room, especially without the windows to enclose the heat. Rain poured down
outside, and every now and then a thunderclap struck. Hitomi didn't mind
the storm, she just hated the coldness. She glanced at the catgirl, who
lay curled in a ball at the edge of the bed.
Well, doesn't she look content! But
then again, why wouldn't she? She's covered in fur! groaning in exasperation,
Hitomi got up. What we need here is a nice little fire to spruce things
up.
Carefully avoiding the fallen bits of
block concrete, Hitomi made her way over to the mostly smashed fireplace.
Running her hands along the floor, she found two thin sticks and placed
them in the fireplace. She rubbed them together, praying that the friction
would bring forth a nice, blazing fire so that Hitomi could warm her frozen
toes.
Nothing.
"Damnit!" Hitomi spat, throwing the utensils
to the ground in anguish. She wrapped her arms around her body, shuddering
again. A thought of Van suddenly struck her and she decided to go see how
he was faring through the weather.
Van was faring rather well. He had managed to
get a fire going in the fireplace, and was seated in front of it, cross-legged.
His ruby eyes watched the flames dance, completely transfixed by something
within the small blaze. His right hand was gripping the pendant tightly.
He wondered why he still had it, he should have returned it to Hitomi.
No don't give it back don't give it back she gave it to you she wanted
you to have it to keep it forever to remember you of her and her beautiful
green eyes and hair and smile and
"Van?" came a tiny voice. A short haired
girl poked her head through the doorway, her emerald eyes peering around
the well-lit room. Immediately Van let his hand drop from the pendant.
"Hitomi." he smiled warmly.
The girl pushed the door open a little more.
"May I come in?"
"Of course."
She crept in, as if walking normally would wake
someone. She set herself down on the floor next to Van, who scooted
over to allow her more room. Instantly, she raised her hands to meet the
heat of the flames.
Van's furtive gaze never left Hitomi. He watched
her, as she warmed her hands. He watched her, as she shivered slightly.
Gods, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and just hold her, making her
feel toastier. don't do it you fool remember the rule don't get too
attached to her because you'll regret it when she has to return home
"Lousy weather, huh?" Hitomi said, trying
to make conversation.
"You're cold."
Hitomi raised a brow. "I couldn't get a fire
started in Merle's room. No wonder I failed the 'Wilderness Survival' test."
she chuckled to herself. Van wasn't really listening. He frowned, and stood
up. He crossed over to his bed and sat with one leg over the other. Something
about his boots seemed to have caught his attention and he began to fiddle
with them.
"Van, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I can tell when you're lying. Please tell me."
"I think I found a solution to the predicament we're
in."
"Really?" Hitomi grinned.
"My brother built a machine when we were in Asturia.
Something recovered from the Vione."
"I remember it." Hitomi's voice softened. That
machine had been pretty much what had caused Folken's death.
"Well, if I managed to find someone to start
it up again, maybe it would be able to send you back to the Mystic Moon."
Hitomi nodded. Van told her who he had in mind
to rev up the machine and she nodded again.
"A message to him will be sent out tomorrow.
He will most likely respond in a week's time."
i don't want to go that soon no not that soon
i pray it takes longer i want to be with van some more to see if what i
feel is real or just another phase or what Hitomi's mind raced.
"That sounds like a good idea, Van." Hitomi said,
trying to hide her disappointment that it would only be a little over a
week before she would say one last goodbye to her beloved. Van was trying
to do the same.
"I'm going to go get some rest, Van. I'll need
sleep for the big day tomorrow. I have no intention of just sitting around,
I may as well make myself useful and help out."
"If it's too cold in your room, you can always
stay here." the words blurted out of Van's mouth before he could think
of what it was he was saying. It had come out completely wrong. The two
both turned beet red.
"Err, I think I'll be fine, Van." Hitomi said,
being the first to recover from the sentence that hung in the air. Quickly,
she exited the room.
"Stupid." Van told himself, before flopping back
onto his bed.
A/N: Woohoo, another "not-at-my-best" chapter. Gotta love 'em. :oP
Later chapters will be more interesting, trust me! *lol*