Chapter 4

Panting she sprinted as fast as she could. Hitomi couldn't believe it; Van was with some one else. Tears streamed down her face soaking the collar of her shirt. Why did I have to come back?

Heat and flames surrounded her, Escaflowne and the Alsedis' swords clashed sending red and orange sparks flying thought the air. It looked like Van was winning, but something on the ground caught Hitomi's eye. It was the same girl that she had seen Van with at the lake. This time the girl was wearing armor, she swung her sword cutting down the soldier she had just been fighting. Hitomi didn't like to admit but the girl was actually good. An ear splitting scream ripped though Hitomi's whole being, as a burning building collapsed crushing the girl. Her limp arm stuck out of the rubble, dropping her sword. Evilly Hitomi felt relived instead of hurt or sad. Distracted Escaflowne turned; Van screamed an odd name "Medina!" it must have belonged the girl. The Alsedis took this chance to strike Escaflowne down once and for all. "NOOOOOOO VAN!"

Some one was shaking her. Slowly she opened her emerald eyes, big blue ones starred back. "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh! She screamed.

"Shut up Hitomi!" Merle snapped covering Hitomi's mouth with her paws. "If I remove my hands will you promise to keep your big mouth shut?" Five years sure left its mark on Merle, she had grown taller and filled out losing her kittenish look. Her hot pink hair was shoulder length and curled at the bottom.

Shooting Merle the death glare she nodded. "What happened?"

"You would know better then me! I found you laying on the ground! HERE in FANELIA! What are you doing on Gaea!"

"I had to come back, when I was on earth..." Merle gave her a clue less look "Um... the Mystic Moon..." Merle nodded " I saw Fanelia burning again... It was horrible!" she sobbed

Merle gasped "You don't mean another one of your visions!"

Silently she nodded.

"We have to tell Lord Van." she said grabbing Hitomi's arm and trying to drag her back into the forest.

"NO!" shacking Merle lose "Van is... busy" silently a tear slid down her cheek

"What do you mean he is 'busy'?" hands on hips.

"I saw him with..." she started to sob again

"With who?"

"His girlfriend!"

"You've got to be kidding! That last trip here must have fried your brain! Van has never had a girlfriend."

"But I saw them by the lake!" she yelled back

In the mists of their argument they failed to notice the shadow cast behind them.

"What is going on here?"

Spinning around Hitomi was face to face with the man she loves. Dripping raven hair framed Van's face, reddish eyes starred frozen in shock.

"H-H-Hitomi, is that really you?"

Merle pushed Hitomi aside, wrapping her arms around his neck "Oh Lord Van, she is saying the strangest things."

"I'm not crazy! I know what I was." meekly she looked away.

"What did you see?" Van asked.

"I-I-I saw you... at the edge of the lake... with..." Hitomi looked around "her." she said pointing over Van's shoulder at Medina.

Commercial interruption

Clinging tighter around Van's neck, Merle glared over his shoulder at Medina.

"Merle you're choking me!" he coughed turning blue under her grasp.

"Sorry Lord Van." letting go "Who is she?" Merle demanded

"Everyone this is Medina" he continued not seeing Merle extend her claws "she saved my life." he blushed

Hitomi saw how uncomfortable they looked (Van and Medina) she decided to try and break the tension "Van your drenched, you should get changed before you catch a cold. We'd all like to hear what happened, once your dry."

He opened his mouth to say something, deciding ageist it he closed his mouth and lead the way up to the castle. 'Hitomi finely came back after all these years, and all I can do is stand here gawking at her like a hooked fish. I'm so pathetic!' Van thought mentally kicking himself.

Merle clung onto his arm as they walked in silence. Nervously her tail twitched, looking back at Medina, she flattened her ears 'I don't trust her' she hissed to herself extending her claws.

Hitomi walked right behind them. 'I guess I just read that dream wrong, Van isn't with her after all. Why don't I feel relived?' something in the back of her mind nagged her. 'Hey wait a second where is that Medina girl?' she turned around looking for the strange newcomer 'I could swear that she was right here a minute ago.' turning she saw Medina trailing behind. Hitomi jogged over to where Medina was walking slowly "What's wrong?" the only reply was a shrug.

After a minute of silence "Why does your cat friend look so pissed off?"

"Oh Merle, don't mind her. It's probably just a hairball."

At the rear entrants of the castle Van stopped to wait for the new friends as they chatted away. "Hurry up you to it wouldn't be my fault if you got lost."

"Like we couldn't find our way around a castle."

"Fine! I'll go change and meet you in my study, Merle make sure they don't get lost." He said walking away.

"I can't believe it he thinks we can't take care of ourselves! It's only a castle!"

"Stubborn as always Hitomi, it will be your down fall one of these days!" Merle hissed going on all fours and running the opposite direction.

"There goes our guide. Oh well we'll have to find the study on our own now." Medina sighed

"Um... which way should we go?" the hallway split, leaving the too standing there clue less.

To Be Continued...