Chapter 2

"Ring"

"That is all for today, your home work assignment for tonight is to write a two page essay on Jung's apprenticeship with Freud. See you all next week. Miss.Kanzaki please remain in your seat after everyone else has left."

"Yes professor."

"I'll wait outside for you." Yukari whispered as she got up and left.

"Miss.Kanzaki you seemed distracted today." he said handing back her most resent test (82) "This isn't up to your usual standards. Is anything wrong?"

"I'm sorry Professor Abdulin, there was a death in my family." she lied (he actually seemed to believe it to!)

"Its okay Miss.Kanzaki, I understand. I'll see you next week, and try to stay focused."

"Yes sir. " she said heaving her bag onto her shoulder and heading out the class room door, all of the sudden...

"Hitomi!" she jumped

"Yukari don't do that!"

"I couldn't help it, you've been so jumpy lately." trying to hold back her laughter "Do you want to do something, go to the movies or the mall?"

"I thought you and Amono had a date?"

"Well... we do, but he wouldn't mind if you came along."

"No thankx Yukari, I'd hate to be a third wheel. I think I'll just go home and start my essay."

"Are you sick?" feeling Hitomi's forehead with the back of her hand.

"I'm fine, I was just saying that if I finished my essay, we could do something tomorrow, just us."

"Okay. but you have to forget about that dream. Remember its just a dream!"

"Bye Yukari. See you later." She said walking towards her car. She stopped at the driver side door, and reaching into her bag she searched for her keys.

A strong breeze whipped wisps of her hair against her face. "Why is the wind so hot?" Hitomi said looking up. She gasped as tongues of flame erupted from the same metal giant that destroyed Fanellia five years ago. Buildings were burning, people ran out, with their hair and clothes on fire. The smell of burning flesh stung Hitomi's nostrils. Screams echoed though her mind. Out of the black billowing smoke a regal form stood outlined against the flames. "Is that... no it couldn't be, Van removed the energist when I left." She squinted against the smoke and flames. There it was in all it's glory, Escaflowne strode towards the red Alsedies, drawing his sword. In return the Alsedies's crima claw formed into a crude curved blade sword. The weapons clashed sending reddish orange sparks flying thought the air.

The next thing Hitomi knew was darkness.

"Oooh" she groaned. The concrete under her was rough ageist her back. cautiously she opened her eyes, blinking up at the clear blue sky that had just been blood red a minuet ago. "Ouch!" Hitomi said sitting up and brushing the pebbles imbedded in her back. "I don't care if he is with that strange woman, Van is still my friend and I have to warn him!"

commercial interruption

Back at Hitomi's apartment, Yukari knocked on the door. It squeaked open a crack "Hello Hitomi? "she called, opening the door the rest of the way, no reply. Yukari way totally shocked by what she saw. Chairs where turned over, papers and books were scattered every where. Hitomi's formally clean apartment was completely trashed. There was a strange noise coming from Hitomi's room. Yukari picked up a small lamp off the end table next to the sofa, unplugging it she raised it over her head. Softly she pushed the door with her foot. It slowly opened placing her face to face with the culprit.

"Ahhhh"

"Ahhhhhh!" Hitomi took the lamp out of Yukari's hands "Yukari! What are you doing?"

"I thought that some one had broken into your house."

"Some one did!"

"Who?"

"You."

Going slightly red in the face "Anyways whats going on?" motioning at the state of the apartment.

"Yukari I had another Vision."

"What, but its been years if you don't count that ridiculous dream." looking at her friend she saw the same worn duffle bag (the one that followed Hitomi to Gaea last time) hanging on her shoulder. Hitomi had this determent expression plastered on her face that told Yukari 'I don't care what you think I'm going anyway!'

"Fine!" Yukari sighed, she could tell that this argument wasn't going anywhere "What was this Vision about?"

Hitomi moved a pile of clothes and papers so they could sit down on the sofa sitting down, she explained everything to her best friend. "and I don't care if he is with that girl. Van is still my friend, and I have to warn him."

"How are you going to get there? After all you did give Van your pendent."

Deep in thought Hitomi mused over this question. "Your right, but if I can link myself to the pendent I may be able to summon up that pillar again."

"If your going to go to Gaea before that vision comes true you better get going."

Getting up they closed and locked the front door behind them and walked outside. The cool spring air made them shiver. "It's now or never." Hitomi said to- herself. She looked up at the cloudless blue sky. Focusing on Van she closed her eyes. Something that felt like a warm breeze envelope her whole body. Hitomi opened her eyes just as she was lifted off the ground, though the light she could see Yukari waving.

"Good bye Hitomi!" she called as her friend disappeared into the sky "Be careful." with that Hitomi was gone, leaving Yukari alone once more.