Disclaimer: I am sad to say that Escaflowne is not mine, but this story is written by me. And I guess that's good right? Oh yes, and the characters you have never met before are mine.

This page was revised on 05/03/06 (I swear that I had no idea how to use commas because there are pretty much "no" commas in this whole fic! I am so sorry! Can you say "amateur writer?" I believe yes!) I will try and revise the other chapters when I have the time. At this time I would like to thank the many faithful readers who have enjoyed my fics thus far. I am in no means interested in continuing my fan fictions, but I will keep them up for those who would like them to stay. Thanks again.

UNFORGOTTEN

Chapter 1: All In Good Time

Earth

The alarm clock flashed 3:00AM. A girl of 20 sat up in her bed to look out the window. Her eyes shifted to the Moon, but were focused beyond it. A letter lay next to her bed with the name Hitomi scrawled across the back. Hitomi's eyes lingered on the letter. She sighed and let herself fall back on her pillows. Her lips slowly parted as she whispered one soft word to the air. Again, Hitomi glanced past the Moon only to squeeze her eyes shut as she moaned that one word again. "Van…"

It had been exactly five years since the day Hitomi had met Van. She finished High School and had moved onto college with an athletic scholarship. Everyone knew Hitomi to be the fastest runner on track as well as the best jumper. Hitomi had no problems in making friends once High School was over and was quite the social butterfly. Many of her male friends had found a strong liking to her; More than a few asked for her hand in marriage. To her distress Amano himself had proposed to Hitomi. She felt this to be terribly wrong considering Amano and Yukari's recent affection towards one another. Hitomi found that something was lacking in her life and she knew exactly what that something was. Even Amano would not be able to fill the gap.

Five years. Five years and Hitomi still refused to tell anyone what happened during those months she went missing. People would bribe and pry until one day they all gave up. It was Hitomi's secret, and her secret alone. Everyone else had forgotten about Hitomi's long disappearance. Everyone, except Hitomi. A long sigh escaped her lips as she found herself staring up at her ceiling. Another semester of college had just ended and Hitomi was tired. She didn't feel like going to college anymore. What was she working for anyways? Hitomi stretched her arm upwards as if reaching for something. "I'm so sick of it all." The words were hardly audible as they escaped her lips.

Hitomi let her arm fall to her side. Her eyes shifted back to the letter then back out the window. Thoughts of him flooded her head. "Why do I still have feelings for him? I should be over him by now. Why are my dreams haunted by him?" Hitomi furrowed her brows in frustration. Pains of the war seeped into her mind as her thoughts idled on Van. She knew why she had left Gaea, yet she still asked herself the question, "Why did I leave?"

The clock now flashed 3:30AM. Hitomi rolled her eyes as she picked herself out of bed. Her body didn't seem to like sleep this night. As she walked towards her dresser she took one more look outside before shuffling around for some running shorts and a T-shirt.

It was the first time Hitomi had the urge to come to the track on this special day. This was where she had first crashed into Van. She let herself stare at the track for a moment before flicking on the lights and setting up her blocks.

Just like that first encounter Hitomi crouched down into her starting position. She concentrated as hard as she could on the pendant she had given Van. Her mind envisioned Amano holding it up. Her heart started to pound harshly in her chest as Amano's figure molded into Van. He was wearing that old red shirt she remembered so fondly. She took out the white feather from her pocket and clutched it in her slender hand. A smile crept to her face as Van's sword came down in one sweeping motion. Hitomi pushed off of the blocks, running faster than she had ever dared. Without even realizing it tears had formed in her eyes that were now trailing behind her. She missed him. She missed him and she couldn't handle it anymore.

Gaea

Van closed his eyes and sighed, placing his head on his right hand. His fingers intertwined with the pendant dangling from his neck. Subconsciously he started to fiddle with it. Van's mind drifted as he thought of his kingdom. Fanelia was almost completely rebuilt, which was wonderful news. However, there was one problem that arose from the completion of Fanelia: marriage. Van's face contorted in frustration as he tuned back into the meeting. One of the council members started to talk about marriage again.

"My King, you need to choose a bride before too long. Fanelia needs a queen!"

Van could feel fury grow within him. They had gone over this many times before. "I am not going to marry! You know where my heart belongs! I cannot betray that!" he raged.

"But my Lord..."

"No buts! I said no and I mean it! Do not choose my queen! I will choose when the right time comes," Van snarled, leaving a scowl across the council member's face. Van stood, "This meeting is adjourned. You are all dismissed." With this said he stormed out of the room before anyone could utter another syllable.

Van walked furiously down the corridor until his temper began to cool off. Thoughts of Hitomi again ran through his mind. "Why can't I get over her? Why do I still hang on by a thread?" Van sighed to himself as he walked into his chambers, took off his robes, and threw on his favorite red shirt. He strolled out the door while grabbing his sword on the way.

As Van reached the forest he checked the area to make sure no one was following him. In a swift movement he entered the forest with a million thoughts running through his head. The sun was almost hidden behind the mountains as Van delved deeper into the forest. He would have to camp for the night. Not much was heard except the gentle rustle of the leaves as Van fell into a light slumber.

Van awoke with a yawn and looked up. There hovered Gaea's Moon and Mystic Moon so peacefully. He sat up while sighing inwardly. It was still very dark outside. "It's probably morning by now." Van mumbled to himself as he slothfully laid back down. Not a moment later he bolted upright.

"How could I forget? This is the day Hitomi and I met!" Van slapped himself on the forehead and stood up. His eyes lingered on the Mystic Moon. A longing sigh escaped his lips as he consciously fiddled with the pendant. "If only you knew how much I still care for you." A blinding light suddenly emerged from the heavens and engulfed Van. His feet were picked from the ground as he ascended towards the Mystic Moon. Van gasped as he distinctly remembered the first time Hitomi and he had met. A smile captured his lips as he let himself get carried away to another world.

Earth

Hitomi was almost to the finish line. By this time she had started sobbing. Her heart ached for Van Fanel, kind of Fanelia. Ten feet away from the finish line a light poured to the ground, carrying a person with it.

Hitomi's eyes grew wide and her heart beat so fast she thought she would lift off the ground and fly. "Van!" she screamed. The pillar hit the finish line as a sturdy male planted his feet firmly on the ground. Again Hitomi's eyes grew wide knowing she was running all too fast to stop before reaching Van.

The collision happened fast. Hitomi opened her eyes and stared down at Van. She was sprawled on top of him in a manner that made them both blush. Hitomi quickly picked herself off of Van and let him sit up. Van glanced over at Hitomi with a bewildered look on his face. He started to rub the back of his head where a small goose egg started to form. "For some reason I seemed to have been off my guard this time. I'm also lacking armor. I think you may have damaged my brain."

Hitomi gave Van a blank stare. Her eyes began to water as she stared into Van's chocolate gaze. In a flash she had closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his neck tight. Van was taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure and awkwardly put his arms around Hitomi.

They both pulled away, but all too soon. Still, they were both too proud and shy to admit they still had feelings for one another. Van stood and helped Hitomi up. He noticed that their hands stayed clasped longer than expected. Hitomi pulled away and raised her arm up to the level of Van's head. A questioning look from him told her he wasn't sure what she was doing.

"You're a lot taller than I remember," Hitomi stated as she lowered her arm, giving Van a big smile. She also noted how his body was more toned and built. Van had grown to be a very handsome king. To her liking his hair was the same length she remembered it. Van smiled for the first time in a long time. It was as if Hitomi had taken his smile to the Mystic Moon as well as his heart.

Hitomi blushed and looked away. Van frowned and pulled away from her.

"Hitomi?" he asked as he scratched his head looking towards the ground.

"Yes Van?" I hope he still wants me. I hope he takes me away from here forever. I hope. Oh please let that be it. It's not the same here on Earth as it was when I was 15. Hitomi hoped he would say that with all her heart. She could not live another day without him.

"Um, I know...uh...happy anniversary," Van blushed a beat red. You idiot! Just ask her to come back with you! It's not that hard! You're just afraid that she's married that's all. But you might as well ask. Hitomi looked down sadly but quickly glanced up and shot him a small smile.

"Thank you, Van," she murmured softly. She felt so stupid just standing there. They were only about a foot or two apart and Hitomi had the urge to hug him so hard and just lift off the ground back to Gaea while he held her. Without thinking she stepped up and hugged him. Van's eyes went wide with affection. Hitomi lifted her arms and placed them around his neck feeling a chain there. She placed it between her thumb and forefinger and lifted the necklace from underneath his shirt and started playing with it. He kept it. Van blushed. He would usually never let anyone do that with his pendant. Or rather Hitomi's pendant. But he liked it when Hitomi did it. He smiled as he saw the look on her face as she played around with the pendant dangling from his neck.

"Van. You kept it!" she whispered happily.

Van lifted her face towards his so they were only inches apart. "Yes, I did." Hitomi blushed at how close their lips were from touching. Van smiled and without another thought spoke up. "Hitomi? Will you come back to Gaea with me?" he blushed as he noticed what he had just asked. He asked her to give up everything here on Earth just so she could be with him. I'm so selfish. Of course she wouldn't go back with me. I don't even know if she loves me anymore. He looked at her noticing how much she had grown. Her hair had been cut to about the same length as before but it was done more nicely and made her look beautiful. She seemed more delicate than before and lost a bit of her boyish ways. "I mean, you don't have to come. I know how much you love the Mystic Moon, but will you please at least come for a day? I mean, you don't have to come at all if you don't want to and especially if you're married to..." Hitomi placed a finger to his lips as her eyes grew wide with shock.

He thinks I'm married! Hitomi giggled.

"What's so funny?" Van cocked his head to the side.

"I'm not married Van," Hitomi stated smiling mischievously. "Are you?" Her eyebrows furrowed with worry. Please say no. Geez Hitomi! You're so selfish. He's a king for heavens sake! Of course he'd probably be married. Maybe that's why he came here. To invite me to his wedding.

"No," Van suddenly started blushing. "That's why I came here." Hitomi blushed too and moved her face closer to his then rested it on his shoulder.

"Van?"

"Hm?"

Hitomi started getting very hot and turned a crimson red. "Before we go, will you show me your wings?"

Van's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Okay, but I'd only do it for you Hitomi." He let go of their embrace although he wanted to stay like that forever and removed his shirt. Hitomi blushed even more if possible from his masculine body. Her heart started beating wildly whenever he did that. Van started blushing too and tossed his shirt to Hitomi. She caught it, not believing that he was actually here and showing his wings to her with no problem. His wings emerged from his back gracefully and easily. Van usually went out into the forest 3 times a week to stretch his wings and get used to the feeling so it wouldn't hurt him.

Hitomi clutched his shirt to her chest and stared at him in awe. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever laid eyes on. Van smirked at how just taking off his shirt and showing her his wings made her turn on so easily. He moved over to her and took her in his arms. Hitomi's heart was beating so hard she new he could probably feel it. His skin was so warm and she thought that this moment would have never come if he hadn't come back for her. Hitomi finally made a movement as she still clutched his shirt she brought her arms around his waist.

"I'm ready Van," Hitomi whispered as a familiar pillar of light engulfed them and picked them up, but as they were lifted something intercepted the light and they were dropped. Van reacted quickly as he started to carry Hitomi using his wings.

"What happened?" Hitomi questioned as they landed.

"I don't know but it wasn't anything good." Van said as he drew his sword. "Who's there?" Two figures emerged from the shadows and both Hitomi and Van gasped. "What are you doing here?" Van snarled.

A/N: I will try and get the other chapters revised as soon as I am able. Thanks again! And this one is only partly revised. Only half of this chapter has been revised. Sorry it is taking me so long. I have finals!

Sally Fox o.O