Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, nothing more to say.

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Twenty-Two

'So Van-sama, you have stolen the heart of yet another woman?' Merle thought to herself as she watched the huge blade come down at her. She could see her frightened daughter hanging in the sky with her beautiful wings outstretched. Time moved erratically, the seconds both an eternity and an instant.

The little girl struggled to hold the extra weight of Hitomi as she cried for her father to stop his attack. Her young mind struggled to comprehend why he was hurting her mother. But some part of her, deep inside, knew that it was the only way.

As the blade fell down upon Merle, Van was full of awfulness. He had expected some sort of protective barrier, something to at least soften the blow. But through the sensitive systems of the armor, he could feel the crunch of her body under the burden of the sword.

Wasting no time, Van moved the blade away from where the dust was kicked up and Merle lay. Then as quickly as the Escaflowne would let him, he rushed out of the cockpit. Running over to the crumpled body, Van prayed that she would have somehow escaped any great harm. But it seemed his aim had been perfect, making his prayer turn to lesson her suffering. Half of her body was crushed; it amazed him to hear her still gasping for breath.

Kneeling down to Merle, he pulled her gently into his arms. She involuntarily cringed at his touch, her nerves on fire and ultra-sensitive. Blood was everywhere, including seeping from her lips. Her eyes were closed, in a vain attempt to push the pain away. Van felt tears come to his eyes; he was so full of regret. Burying his face into her neck, undeterred by the blood, he sobbed.

Namir landed herself and Hitomi a good distance away from her parents. Part of her wanted desperately to go to her mother, to see if she would be all right. But something stopped her. She didn't know what it was, but she just couldn't actually bring herself to move any closer. So instead she watched, hoping for the best.

Hitomi was even more confused than the little girl. She didn't know how to react, or what to do. Seeing the two together, even at this sad moment, she could see how right they seemed together. It upset her to realize this, but she could do nothing but watch.

As Van wept into Merle's neck, he was aware of her hitching breath even more. Hearing and feeling it come from her was a stark reminder of what he'd done. He was surprised to feel the weight of a hand in his hair, comforting him in his despair. Her hand, bloody, but still so full of love.

'I… I've lost m-my feathers,' Merle gurgled out. Shifting to look at her face, Van saw that she wanted to see her Draconian angel. So with no further prodding, he let his wings burst from his back, in a frenzy of white feathers. He used his long wings to close around them, protecting their private moment.

'I'm so sorry Merle,' he whispered to her, desperate to make her believe. She only smiled sadly, her eyes full of understanding, regret, and love. Van took the hand that was caressing him into his own, and brought the knuckles to his lips to kiss.

'I l-love you-u Van-s-sama,' Merle struggled to say as her breath started to failed her even more. 'I m-miss being ch-children… y-young… when y-you w-w-were as much m-mine… a-as I w-was y-y-yours.'

'I won't let you go,' Van said determinedly, though he wasn't entirely sure how he meant.

'I l-l-l-love y-you m-my v-Van-sama,' she said again. Van could only pull her even more tightly into his arms.

'I love you too Merle,' Van whispered back, not noticing the shattered pieces of the red jewel on her chest become dust in the wind.

And there in the forest, under the menacing Escaflowne, Van held his pretty little cat-girl for long after her last breath.

End Part 22.