It has been along time folks. This story is running a lot longer then intended. I hope you forgive all the delays. I also hope you are not disappointed. Due to the loss of my old notes everything from here on is from scratch. Please bear with me.

This is really hard for me so I thank you for your patience. hugs Fae Rain and CrimsonFire Thank you for not disowning me!

Sincerely

-banryuu (aka thundersenshi17)

Disclaimer; I do not own Escaflowne. But that is good cuz if I did the ending wouldn't have been as open and over half of us would have nothing to write!

Chapter 10

Then there was silence. Hitomi noted her newfound friend was in a state reminiscent of meditation, running careful and skilled fingers along the center of the blade. Everything about her attitude suggested a long lost relative, not a random piece of metal. Well it was now or never. When else was Medina serious enough to get a straight answer from?

"Um... can I ask you something Medina?" Hitomi cautioned.

"Sure."

"Well you seem to hate Princes Kiki... more then the rest of us..."

Medina visibly tensed but Hitomi decided to keep going. "Why did you act disgusted when she said her country was beautiful?" Hitomi blinked into the silence. 'Is it just me or is it hard to breath in here?'

Then came the explosion. "How could anyone call that wasteland BEAUTIFUL? After what her and her whole damn family did I feel like vomiting from the thought! If you side with her you are no friend of mine!" She shouted with out even turning around. And then it was gone, her anger drained out of her like someone pulled the plug in a tub full of water. "Please forgive my outburst Hitomi. It was a long time ago... lets just forget it." She turned around to face her friend for the first time since entering the store. Medina's eyes where wide like a child after a scolding.

"Your hand it is bleeding!" Hitomi rushed to her side.

She looked down at her clenched hands as if it was all new to her. "So it is... " In her anger she had gripped the blade so hard sliced a deep groove into of her hand as well as across her fingers. She kept staring down as if she was trying to figure out if it was her and in ribbons or a stranger's.

"Are you alright?" A tall man wearing a worn leather apron approached them bringing the girls back to reality.

"Its looks worse then it is." Medina shruged

"Well the lest I can do is bandage it for you." He said gently taking the dirk away from her. "Can you hold this for me?" He turned to Hitomi, handing her the hilt of the bloodied blade.

The second her finders rapped around the handle she was once again far from her body, taken back into someone else's memories. There was a musty smell of dampness and the cold cruelness of the surrounding stone.

Solid almost tangible footsteps echoed against the enclosed space. " I came to see the prisoner." The stoic voice announced Folken's presence.

"But Sir 'it' is dangerous. Orders are that no one may enter."

"No one can get that blade, and survive. Its a wild animal."

" I came to see the prisoner. Do you question my competence?"

"No Sir!" They both chimed stepping aside.

Floken walked past them without a second glance. His eyes scanned the room taking it all in. To his right was a puddle from a leak in the ceiling. Ageist the far wall a hole for... disposal, opposite of that was a board attached to the wall took the form of a bed. "You would be less danger dead." He spoke to the bony mass huddled near the center or the small space, as if the walls were marching inwards.

It peered up through a nest of matted hair. "Boredom will kill me faster then you will."

"Very true. I need you."

The hazel eyes blinked up at him waiting for the continuation.

"I have a proposition for you." With that the blade flew out of the cell in a silver flash, imbedding itself into the back of one soldier's neck the point protruding out the other side. "Now let us speak alone."

The man fell forward as the vision faded.

"Hii-to-miiii... Hitomi? Did you get cut too?" Medina waved a bandaged hand in front of her face.

"Geez, Medina I'm not that stupid." She looked at the mummy like hand in front of her. "Sorry... I didn't mean to say..."

"Don't worry the truth speaks for its-self." She fluttered her hand through the air like a gauzed bird.

"I'll take that back now Miss." The shop owner stated taking the blood caked weapon. He gingerly wiped it clean. "No matter how long it sits here it never seems to dull. No one will buy it they think its cursed... then mabie it is."

"Cursed?" The girls chimed in unison, then looked at each other strangely.

"The last owner tried to assassinate some other country's royal family. They failed and ended up dieing in prison. Its a shame such a beautiful weapon..." He trailed off.

"I'll buy it." Hitomi spoke up. 'Why do they look so shocked?' She thought.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea... I think I have enough. Anyways people say I'm cursed too." Hitomi handed the man some money, but didn't realize he handed back way to much. After having it rapped tightly the girls set off to their next destination.

The rest of the trip went in relative silence. Medina insisted on carrying all the parcels even with her bad hand it didn't slow her down. They stopped in a tavern for lunch before heading back to the bustle of the castle. Medina ordered firewater to take the edge away. Hitomi just shook her head. They sat at a scarred wood table, the room buzzed as the lights changed.

A figure walked onto the small stage, bathed in shadow. A clear voice reached out silencing the crowd. The voice was pure and sweet like a spring flowing up from deep inside.

I've walked so long

I can't remember - where was my home?

Their distance faces fade away

I'm always on my own.

I can show a smile

It's not hard to do.

I can have the strength to go on

But sometime I wanna let go of everything.

When thoughtfulness is not their game

I teach by giving love.

High mountain seems higher endlessly

when they're pebbles at your feet.

And if you should still fall into despair,

there is one thing left to believe

I lie in your heart always.

Nothing is braver than honesty

My life is your faith in me.

I'll be there when you need

you don't have to hide from me.

What you are feeling now

I fill your soul.

We will seek together destiny

troubles have an end.

we'll carry on hand in hand

you're not alone.

People searching desperately outside themselves

caught up in thinking of whatever helped.

And I'd forgotten too that love exists inside me as in those I wanted from

I feel you now.

I'll be there when you need

we will live together.

Nothing is in our way

with trust in our soul.

We will seek together destiny

troubles have an end.

We will carry on hand in hand

We won't forget we have each other.

Never!

Love is in the hearts of all men

you're not alone.

As the notes faded lingering softly, the lights came up to bath the singer in light. She was tall with skin the color of coffee with cream. Leaf green hair flowed down her back to mid-waist, accompanied by violet eyes. Exotic was the only word to describe her. She was wearing a simple white gown a gold necklace adorned her slender throat.

"What is that symbol on her pendent?" Hitomi whispered

"Can't see from here. Lets go tell her she was amazing then I'll let you know what it is."

"Thats kinda rude. Wait- Medina... come back" Hitomi could do nothing but follow her friend's blue clad body through the crowd.

Catching sight of Medina and the trailing Hitomi, the woman's violet eyes widened and she slid quickly out a side door and was gone.

"You scared her away."

"She wasn't looking at me when she ran." Medina stated. "I have a feeling we will see her later anyways, so lets get back before little miss kitty's head explodes."

To Be Continued...

A/N

I know it was short and you really don't learn much new... But hopefully the chapters from here on out won't be so excruciating. I apologize again for the wait... it has been years.