I meant to update this a few weeks ago…apparently I didn't. So here it is now. I've had a few people already wonder about the relationship between Van and Hitomi, and there's only been 1 chapter! As you can see, this story is not in the "romance" genre at the moment. It is in the genre titled "Tragedy/Drama", of course, this story is just beginning so as it continues the genre will change a little. And drama can easily include a love/hate relationship. Anyway, I hope that clears up that question for now (that was soo vague!). Hey, everyone please remember, "mace" is in "romance" for a reason. And soon, you will all understand what that means.
Goddess-Hitomi: Well…hm, yes I guess it is safe to say this story will have some romance.
Bradybunch4529: Heh, sorry for the late update, hopefully I won't be doing that again.
f-zelda: Yay! Finally someone who noticed Van's temper! I didn't know if I had made him too out of character or not. My comment about the Hitomi/Van relationship is in the author note.
awal: You're damn right I know who this is! You know me far too well, of course they'll suffer, but the end is only for me to know.
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne.
Possession
home BOUND
Hitomi! Hitomi, I love you!
Hitomi shut her eyes tightly, dreading the painfully bright light which seared through the thin flesh of her eyelids. It had blinded her the first few times and now it seemed that it would blind her once more. She held her breath as she felt her weight shift up gradually, then weightlessness, then slowly moving down, suddenly heavier than she remembered being.
She felt smooth ground under her feet as she was lowered and she gained more and more of her weight onto her feet. The column of light dimmed around her, retreating into space with a dull shimmer. She rubbed her eyes with effort, the night had managed to wear her out, and too many bad events happening at once can do that to a person.
The teenaged girl gained her vision back bit by bit. Her green eyes -half closed- took in her surroundings. It was evening, just sunset in a park that looked faintly familiar. She didn't dwell on that thought too much though, her mind told her to look up at the sky. She focused on finding the moons in the sky.
A white orb with crevices, turned pink-orange from the setting ball of fire, floated lonely in the sky, unaccompanied by a sphere of green vegetation, blue seas, and white atmosphere.
"The Mystic Moon." She muttered, already accustomed to the words.
Hitomi soon realized she was wearing only a large damp nightshirt, lacking: a bra, a skirt, socks and shoes. "Great, the police might arrest me before I even find my way home." She grumbled, wanting to reach home.
She took in the sight of the park to establish her bearings. Her house never had a good view of the sunset, it always captured the morning dawn though. The girl began walking away from the sunset, onto a sidewalk with bare feet, constantly looking around in fear of being arrested for indecency.
A car stopped letting her breeze over the road. Hitomi crossed her arms over her chest as she quickly walked, almost running, across the street. She could feel the eyes of the inhabitants of the vehicle staring at her oddly, probably curious if she was homeless or an escaped mental patient.
Green orbs glanced at the people in the seats of the four door car; three teenaged boys stared at her in an interested and rude manner. Hitomi remembered those boys from her school and they were not her friends in any way. She sighed, looks like I'll be dealing with rumors on the Mystic Moon already. She wanted to ask them what was so damn intriguing, but she felt compelled to get home, take a bath, and perhaps even try and forget all the pain Gaia had brought to her.
Her mind was full of jumbled thoughts. Is Van right? Am I crazy? Her strides greatened as she reached her street, the very road which held her house around that corner with her family waiting. …My family, what do I tell them? That I ran into a king, went to a foreign and unaccounted for planet, and witnessed a world war? Yeah, that'll work, great thinking 'tomi girl! she thought, resisting the urge to slap herself.
The streetlamps began to flicker on, filling the darkening void of night. She ran a hand through her hair, attempting to comb it out to appear somewhat presentable. Only two more houses and then she'd turn that corner to see her home.
Home…it used to be where Van was, she sighed deeply, but it seems he doesn't like me anymore so how could I honestly call his presence my home? She bit back tears as she felt her face tingle, wanting to release all of her bottled up emotions in salty, transparent streams. I just need to forget about him and move on, she thought, knowing that may never happen.
The tired and emotionally drained psychic rounded the corner, she looked up at her house with anticipation; her heart practically skipped a beat when she saw the sign in her yard. Her eyes widened…large, diagonal red letter said: SOLD.
Her mouth dropped open a little, why hadn't she Seen this coming? Was she really loosing her visions?
There was no car in the driveway and by now, all the street lamps were on and the night sky was black with a few jeweled stars embedded in it, but no Gaia, no Van, and no home. Even though the home belonged to another, Hitomi couldn't resist the urge to stroll up the empty driveway with tears prickling and winning the battle, spilling over in triumph down her flustered cheeks and over her gaping, chapped lips.
She stumbled up the front steps, banging a toe on the top step as she glided to the front door in a dream-like state. The young Seer barely noticed the stinging pain as her sparkling, red-rimmed emerald eyes discerned a light from inside the house.
"Hello?" she called out, wincing at the sound of her shaky voice.
There was a slight rustle of clothing, a bang of a cabinet door against a kitchen frame, and quick footsteps. Hitomi thought hopefully, Mamoru?
A boy with similar physical features undecidedly approached the door. "Mamoru!" Hitomi cried with her arms outstretched as she rushed to the door and opened it, then locked her shocked looking brother in a tight squeeze.
"H-Hitomi?" he stuttered out, unsure if he was dreaming about the girl hugging him or not.
"Mamoru," called out a worn-out woman "Who's at the door?" The woman came out from a room, nearing the door with each slow step, her eyes cast down on the floor which needed sweeping and a roll of duct tape was pushed up on her arm. Dark bags under her eyes signified little sleep, if any, and her graying hair was pulled back in a loose bun with apparent lack of strength.
The two children paused in the doorway and stared at the wearied woman. She took her unfocused and hazy stare off the unclean floor and looked up at Hitomi, who was still clutching onto her younger brother. "Mamoru, who's your friend there?" She asked with restrained disgust as she took in the raggedy appearance of the teenaged girl standing in his snug grip.
"Mom, you know her!" He said, recovering from the unexpected arrival of Hitomi. The woman's eyes bored into the eyes of her daughter and slowly, but surely, found recognition.
"Oh, God!" she yelled, suddenly finding hidden energy and reaching Hitomi hurriedly to embrace her once-lost daughter. "Look at you! You're here!" her laughter filled the air as she grabbed her daughter and son, holding onto both of her children with all of her might, assuring herself that they were indeed with her and safe.
"Hitomi!" tears sprang joyously from Mrs. Kanzaki's eyes, "Oh my dear, dear Hitomi! Where were you?" She screamed, releasing the two for a second to let them breath as she waiting impatiently for an answer. "You tell me where you were! Are the rumors true? Did you run off with some boy?"
"Uh…", was all Hitomi could muster out to say. We didn't exactly run, we were taking up by a light to a different world.
"Hitomi," the tears were changing from happy exuberance to angry comprehension on the tired woman's face, "I demand an answer, young lady!"
The girl looked into Mamoru's eyes, hoping to find a proper response. Her younger brother stared back, anger barely showing through, he was amazed to have his missing sister back with them.
"Oh no, you are not going to even try and cover for her, Mamoru, go to your room and finish packing!" Mrs. Kanzaki's rigid index finger pointed up the stairs, indicating that his room was back there and needing his immediate attention. The boy audibly smacked his lips as he stomped up the bare stares to some extent. He obviously had wanted to hear Hitomi's response first-hand.
"Uh, mom," Hitomi asked softly, causing her mother to turn and stare at her, "can I just take a shower first?"
"Yes, that does sound like a good idea," she stated, " but keep in mind, you're going to tell me where you went and you're going to tell me the truth." Her mother reached into a cardboard box and pulled out a thin, pink towel, "Here, take this and try to conserve some water."
"Yes ma'am." The teenaged girl said over her shoulder, already halfway up the stairs with the towel held to her chest. She was beginning to feel bound to her family like before, restricted but loved.
She went into the unlit bathroom, finding the act of flicking a switch almost alien to her. The bright light flooded the small bathroom and she found a towel rack where she hung the pastel colored fabric on. Her hands went to the two facets and she twisted the right knob, it brought warm water cascading from the unkempt metal spout.
Running water, what a luxury! She pulled up on the metal piece protruding from the top, a brief splutter of water splashed and then it bounded lively from the showerhead. Hitomi pulled off her shirt, which actually belonged to Van. With that fact in her head, she tossed the cloth viciously against the door and found utter satisfaction when it smacked the wooden door harshly with a loud thump.
"Hitomi?" Her mother's worried voice called from downstairs.
"I'm ok mom!" she yelled quickly, sliding off her underwear and slipping into the cataract of warm water.
It rushed over her and she felt her tense muscles relax; a smile crept over her face. Van never had a real shower like this, she thought smugly. Her hands grabbed a small bottle of shampoo that was unpacked and squeezed a dime-sized drop into her hands. She worked up a rich lather, sighing softly as the water rinsed through her darkened honey colored locks. Hitomi blindly found the soap and began the task of completing her bath. She couldn't help but wonder why the house was in boxes and why her mother hadn't called her dad to come home early from work. Maybe she's calling him now, oh, I can't wait to see him! Her thoughts began to wander. Those idle thoughts soon finding memories of Van, all of those moments of no commitment and warmth. Even after finishing the act of bathing she stayed under the steady stream. She lingered in the heated liquid, just like her thoughts of Van lingered in her bewildered mind.
A knock came from the door jarring her from a particularly good memory of the two. "Uh, yes?" she asked politely.
"I told you to conserve water! Don't you think that you can hide in that bath tub all night!"
"Yes ma'am." The girl said, leaning over to turn off the shower with regret clearly written all over her features. But who or what was the regret for?
With the cold air rushing around her, she snatched the towel and threw it around her shoulders as she sat hunched over on the rim of the bathtub. She dried herself off and secured the towel under her arms. She exited the bathroom, leaving it with stream swirling through the air. Hitomi didn't want to speak with her mother yet; during the shower she had still failed to come up with a plausible excuse. Though, her damp hair and body did need to be clothed.
"Mom." She called from the upstairs hallway.
Mrs. Kanzaki came out of her old room and handed her daughter some of her regular clothing. Hitomi took the clothes with a small smile. It's been a while since I've worn something besides my school uniform. Her mother told her to change in her room; she went towards it to slowly change and began trying to think of a good enough lie for her future interrogation.
What do I say? I guess…I should tell them the truth, they are my family. I wonder why we're selling the house, Hitomi thought to herself.
She ended up wearing a long-sleeved, cotton sleep shirt with matching pants. A yellow and blue pattern of stars, moons, and dragons decorated the soft fabric. Of all the pajamas I have, she had to chose this one, she considered with slight revulsion. After setting the last sapphire blue button in place, the teenager trudged into the hallway and towards her parents' room, guessing her mother would be there.
The girl was correct and found Mrs. Kanzaki taping shut a few small boxes. She stood and motioned for Hitomi to sit on the bed after discovering her presence in the room. The woman pulled up a chair and frowned at her daughter sitting on the edge of the bedin apparent distress.
"Ok, tell me where you went." she demanded calmly.
Hitomi blinked, wondering how to answer the question, all of her excuses suddenly fleeing her memory bank. "I…"
"You…?"
"I went to Gaia." she said faintly, not daring to look at her mother.
"Gaia? What's this Gaia?"
"It's a world…" There was a wavering stillness as Hitomi could feel the anger level rise in front of her.
"So, Gaia is some type of drug house? Or even a sleazy club? Is that what you're trying to tell me?" yelled Mrs. Kanzaki as she stood and took a step closer to her daughter.
"No, mom, it's not like that!" Was the weak reply of the blond girl.
"Oh, then tell me what Gaia is, tell me where it is!"
"It's…"
A slight thump was heard from outside the door along with a whispered curse. The woman cocked her eyebrow and impatiently paced to the door and jerked it open. Mamoru looked up guiltily at his mother with fear. "What are you doing here? I told you to go finish packing! Go and do what I've told you! And I don't know who you've been hanging out with to learn that word, but you better not say it again!" shouted the tired woman; tonight was a stressful night for her.
"Now, as you were saying." she stated, returning somewhat calmly to her seat.
"Mom! I'm telling you the truth, I had a vision and it came true. It was about a boy king from another world with dragons and giant robots. There was a war and I played a pretty big role in defeating the nation that was trying to take over the world!"
"Oh Hitomi," came the dismayed mutter from the chair's occupant, "You've been gone for three months and you expect me to believe that? Just tell me the truth."
"I am. I'm the wing goddess."
Her mother sighed, seeing the truthful expression on Hitomi's face. Mrs. Kanzaki's mother had spoken of a similar journey, but that was different. Her mother's voyage had only been a bedtime story. "I'm going to make an appointment with a psychiatrist for you later this week."
"I'm not crazy-"
"Honey, I don't think you can determine that right now."
Hitomi closed her eyes, resisting the urge to scream out that she wasn't lying. Calm down. Calm down 'tomi girl. It'll be ok, just ask her some questions and we'll find a way out of this, we always do.
"Can I ask you some questions?" the girl looked up at her mother with watering eyes.
"I think you should really get some sleep. I put some sheets on your bed so you can sleep there tonight."
"No mom, tell me why there are boxes everywhere." She got a glance at the digital clock on her mother's nightstand, it read: 9:04 p.m.
"We're moving."
"But why? And where's Dad? Shouldn't he be home by now?"
The exhausted Mrs. Kanzaki bowed her head, "He left last month."
"Did he go on a business trip?"
"He wasn't on a business trip."
"Oh no, no one died did they?"
"No one died."
Hitomi paused a moment and put the pieces together. She looked over her shoulder to find her father's belongings completely out of sight. Actually, she had not seen anything that belonged to him all night. The puzzle then was solved as a few tears trickled down her cheek.
"He didn't even say goodbye to me." Hitomi cried.
Her mother moved over to the bed and held her weeping child. "He barely said goodbye to me either. He packed all of his things and I saw him drive down the street with all of it."
"Daddy…" she began to notice the empty space in the house and her heart. The lamp gave off a warm light, but it couldn't reach far enough into her heart to light up the gloomy darkness beginning to stir. Hitomi could feel her mother rocking her serenely and threatening to lull her to sleep. The fifteen year old saw the boxes and unpacked necessities through blurred eyes as she fell asleep crying in her mother's arms.