Escaflowne: Together Yoyokagirinaku (Forever and ever)

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne. Don't you sue me, okay?

        Okay everyone, here is chapter 3 of Escaflowne. Please take time to review, and I hope you like this portion of the story. Enjoy!! ^_^

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        The doors of the Kanzaki's place started open slowly. Mamoru and his mother looked in the direction to find Hitomi coming into the house, her eyes completely red from crying so much the past hour or so. Mrs. Kanzaki started to stand, observing her daughter's manifest emotion of hurt and sorrow.

        "Hitomi, what is wrong?" asked Mrs. Kanzaki, leading her to sit in the kitchen table.

        "Mom, I really miss him. I really miss Van," Hitomi said, fresh tears flowing through her cheeks.

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Chapter 3- Visions to return…

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        Noticing the depression she is going through, Mrs. Kanzaki drew into a comforting, mother hug that she would always do whenever her only daughter is in distress. "Come on, let's talk about it over a cup of Green Tea, okay?" she suggested, looking into Hitomi's tearful eyes.

        Slowly, she nodded, and followed her mother to the kitchen, sitting on a comfortable as she cried even more when she put her head down.

        "Can you make us some tea, segare?" asked Mrs. Kanzaki, pointing to a fresh kettle of boiled water. Obediently, he followed his mother's orders, and grabbed three mugs.

        The soft cries within Hitomi consumed most of the sounds of the quiet kitchen room. All was silent as Hitomi let her grief out into her arms, trying to let go of that aching heart she has deep within. Few moments later, Mamoru brought the three cups and place them carefully in the middle, sitting on a free chair next to Hitomi.

        "Hitomi, tell me what is going on with you? You were fine just a few hours ago. Then, you suddenly come in here with an expression as if someone has broken up with you."

        Hitomi lifted her head off the table and gladly drank the Green Tea as slowly as possible, easing the painful sorrow within her soul. "It's about Van, mom."

        Her mother instantly knew what she comprehends. "The boy from Gaia that you explained about three years ago?" Hitomi nodded and took another sip of her tea. "Tell me, Hitomi, is there something wrong between the two of you?"

        During those thirty minutes, Hitomi explained the situation about her dreams about Van, telling her how he disappeared from her vision and how she can no longer hear his voice and his touch that suddenly felt the same temperature around her. She also told her about the two feathers that held different meaning. One white feather that is still within her grasp, and the other pitch black, which transformed from solid to dust. She couldn't figure out the problem and that situation until she realized that something is going on up there in Gaia. Mamoru and Mrs. Kanzaki listened intently to her pain, her dreams, and her feelings. They could hear the sound of her deep sadness, hearing into her soul that she is hurting mostly in the inside, her soul breaking into jumbles of fear. Sighing, she finished the story and laid her head back down on the table, her eyes too dry to cry any more tears.

        "Hitomi, if you care for him this deeply, you must go to him," said Mrs. Kanzaki.

        "But how am I suppose to get there? I don't have the pendant with me anymore. I gave to Van so he could remember me. Besides, I might be wrong. He's probably forgetting about now since he couldn't stand it anymore with this love across the distance."

        Mrs. Kanzaki shook her head. She truly is sympathizing for Hitomi, and she couldn't think of any words to say to cheer her broken soul up. "Hitomi, listen to me, I know how much you love Van. You must follow your heart, Hitomi. So, that way, you will know what to do."

        Hitomi nodded her head and started to stand from her seat. "Thanks, mom. I think I'll go to sleep now. Good night, mom. Good night, Mamoru-chan." With that, she stood and walked up the stairs to the bathroom, striping clothes off and taking a nice relaxing bath before heading to sleep.

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        Slowly, she put on her white sleeveless shirt, and started to brush her long hair. Looking into the mirror, she could see the black rings forming in just under her eyes. She could see how ugly she is after crying so much about Van. She was pathetic, thinking that Van disappeared because he has forgotten about her. He has her pendant to remember her by and there is no way he could forget her. But could he?

        Slowly, she drew away from brushing and started to put her hair in a tight bun. After putting it in a nice bun, Hitomi walked to her bed and turned off her light on the nightstand, in hopes that she would get a good night sleep. "Van…" she said, letting one crystal tear fall from her eyes before dozing off to sleep.

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        Appearing out of the darkness, a ghost-like figure stood there, looking over at the ruins of Fanelia. A ghost-like man who wore gray armor around his entire body with a red cape swaying with the distrustful winds. The man turned to Hitomi, yet he was not looking at her entirely.

        "You must fight, Lord Van," he said. Hearing those words, Hitomi turned behind her to find Van standing fearful at the man, shaking from head to foot. "No…I don't want to fight anymore," said Van with fear in his tone of voice. She never heard Van spoke so helplessly before. As if he was a five-years-old boy again. "I'm sick of it!!"

        *Flash

        "Van, promise me you would never let your wings out until the right time comes…"

        *Flash

        A scenery showed Van standing at the edge of lake near Fanelia, his head bowing and his unruly hair covering both of his eyes. "Mother…" he said sadly.

        *Flash

        Memories started to flood through his mind, a memory of the past that he doesn't want to remember. He doesn't want to remember any of it deep down, yet he let his mind go with the flow of his mind. Van clenched his fist tightly, unable to parry the pain that's inside his mind.

        *Flash

        Hitomi, the fifteen year old just three years ago, was held in Van's arms as they soared through the sky with his Draconian Wings. She smiled happily and laughed as he twirled and spin around up in the beautiful blue sky, with the lingering clouds coming towards them.

        "Why all of a sudden you're not embarrassed to show your wings?" asked Hitomi.

        A huge grin plastered on his face, a smile that was rarely seen. "Because I'm no longer embarrassed, Hitomi. You broke that seal away and I know that I didn't betray my mother's promise. Instead, I fulfilled her promise that I would only use them only when the right time comes."

        "Van…" she said, looking deeply into his burgundy eyes.

        *Flash

        The next minute, Van was running through the forests, heading to the direction of Fanelia Castle, his long bangs shadowing his reddish-brown eyes.

        *Flash

        Hitomi and Van started to chase each other in the city of Austria, where Hitomi, as a track athlete starts running and running around. They laughed joyfully as Van tried to reach her and tag her. Her laughter sang through Van's hearing. He loved her laughter, knowing that she is happy at the moment.

        "Gotcha!" said Van, catching her around his arms and whirled her around. Hitomi laughed, letting Van twirl her around as they descended into the countryside of Austria. Van lost his footing and fell heavily into the grassy hills, still holding Hitomi protectively in his arms. They both laughed, tumbling one on top of each other down the grassy hills. At the end of slopes, Hitomi was on top of him, still giggling away.

        "You idiot, you tripped," she jokingly said. He laughed and opened his eyes to look into Hitomi's green eyes. Intently, they froze like that, never leaving their gaze from each other. He smiled once more, extending his ungloved hand to touch Hitomi's cheek gently. She felt his hand upon her cheek, so warm and soft that there was no hint of callus anywhere from using the sword. She lifted her hand and placed hers above Van's, stroking it caressingly. He smiled and intertwined his hands with hers, leaving her cheek discarded and letting his hand hold hers together, every finger going into each open slot of her small hands.

        "Van, you feel so soft," she said, referring to his hand. "It's like you never touched a sword." He smiled only and led their entangled hands to his cheek, Hitomi's on his cheek, stroking it lovingly against his cheek.

        *Flash

        The view of Fanelia castle's gate came into scenery with Van standing there, panting desperately. Talking to the Fanelian Samurais, Kio turned around to see the King, just standing there with his head bowing down.

        Kio excused himself, and went to see the boy who was completely drenched with sweat. "King Van, are you all right?" asked Kio, looking at Van's shadowed and bowed eyes. He did not answer. His gasping voice suddenly turned to its worst. The gasping sounds from his run did not come. Silence only penetrated between them, with the sounds of swords clattering far off into the distance.

        "King Van?" asked Kio once again.

        Van lifted his head to show his brown-reddish eyes deep dilated without that sparkle of life with them.

        *

        "Van…" said Hitomi, whirling around to him.

        *

        With those words, everything somehow went blank with the sounds of desperate cries off in the distance.

        *Flash

        Hitomi opened her eyes to find herself in a dark room, the same dark room in which she notices the failing image of Van for the first time, his fragile bodying disappearing in matters of minutes. "Why am I in a dark place like this? How come I am feeling Van's feeling and seeing Van's memories? What could this mean?"

        A black feather, silhouetted by a dark, grayish white started to float right in front of Hitomi's face. She shook her head, placing both of her hands either side of it. "No, I don't want to see it again! I don't want to see every single thing adapting to one another. Why I can't solve a simple example between the different meanings of the white and black feather!?" she cried dramatically.

        "Because you are denying," said a voice from somewhere beyond the black room. Hitomi lifted her tinted blue head, looking around to see whom the voice was.

        "Who's there?" asked Hitomi quietly.

        Far across the distance, a sudden white light shot through the black room, surrounding Hitomi with it. The winds felt warm in her cold skin that accommodated the warm wind's welcome through her body. The winds, it reminded her of Van, the very time when he stood there, facing the horizon with the winds coming rhythmically through him, his scent carrying out everywhere. She could remember the time when Van stood there, lifting his hands slightly from his sides and lifting his head towards the sky, as if he was flying and unfurling his wings. Hitomi loved that view of him, showing the peace within him now that the war was over. He looked happy and calm when he stood like that. She never really seen him in a peace state during their times through the journey.

        As the white light dimmed, Hitomi found herself in the sky, with the clouds drifting just around her. The calming winds was still there as Hitomi stood there, looking in awe in the peaceful state with a golden yellow glow forming in front of her, reminding her of heaven. The golden glow soon dimmed like the white light and revealed a madam with her kimono-like blue dress with her long black-green hair flowing with the winds.

        "Varie?" called Hitomi questioningly.

        Varie, Van's mother, smiled at her, happy to see her and that Hitomi still remembers her. "You truly did keep your promise Hitomi. You never forget everyone. Yet, you hold a special place for the memory of Van in your heart."

        Hitomi looked down, her sad gaze indicating the turmoil she is going through. "Varie, can you tell me what's happening to Van? All I see is a fading image of him. I couldn't hear his voice anymore. It's like…he had forgotten about me. Is it true that he…forgotten about me?"

        Van's mother could clearly see the sadness deep in the burrows of Hitomi's mind. "No, Hitomi. During these past two years, he never had forgotten you. He has feelings for Hitomi, and he wouldn't dare let them go or he'll forget you. He never let's go the love for his father, his brother, and me as well. This is the turmoil he is going through…and there are some consequences in them too."

        Hitomi finally gazed at Varie, her look in a curious, wonder matter. "W-what do you mean? There shouldn't be any consequences leaving memories in each other's minds," said Hitomi.

        Varie sighed and started to extend her hands and cupped them to create scenery with Hitomi looking up into the skies two years ago, one year just after she returned to Earth. Hitomi looked away, seeing this familiar scene with the two different meaning feathers, one white, and one black. "Hitomi, it is time for you to realize the symbols of these two feathers. As you can see, the white glow around the feather disappeared instantly, symbolizing the sadness within the feather. While…" The scene changed to the black feather, disappearing into dust when Hitomi touched it. "The black feather symbolizes…a dying life coming near." The scene disappeared and Varie looked worriedly at Hitomi. "Hitomi…the feathers…they revolve around my son."

        Hitomi was suddenly hit to realization. The black feather, the same pitch black wings like Folken's wings…the white wings that Van has, with its glow dying down so evidently. Words started to whirl in her mind, finally learning the meaning of Van's sad words that hold despair and sorrow.

                                                                                 

             

        "Soon, I'm going to join the stars, and look down on you as you grow while I remain…a memory. A memory fragment that only lingers only in your mind…"

        "Varie…you don't mean-"

        Varie nodded regretfully. "Yes, Hitomi. I really do mean that. Hitomi, Van is dying."

        "Dying?! How can it possible?" asked Hitomi. "Van is healthy as ever, and I know it."

        "Hitomi, please listen. You may think Van is strong and healthy in your point of view at this point. But, ever since his young age, he is paining in the inside, rethinking through his thoughts about his past. And each day passes by, his health begins to sicken, inch-by-inch, small piece by small piece. And now, with you leaving him alone, his health begins to increase, leaving him weak as ever."

        Hitomi lowered her head thoughtfully, remembering the vision she had during her nap. A descriptive scene with Merle and Allen looking for Van in the castle when Kio ran up to them and spread the warning of Van's dreadful condition. Then, the vision with Van lying there, shaking and sweating all over with a pain shot on his face, calling her name. "So…the dream I had really was a vision…Varie…did it just happened now when dreamed or will it happen in the near future?"

        Sadly, Van's mother looked away with a sad expression on her face. "It happened now, Hitomi. The memories that you've just seen were his. Those memories he dreamed was his past that is paining him, making him ill every second. He is being haunted by the past now. The reason Van's image is disappearing is because he is slipping away."

        "Becoming with the stars," said Hitomi thoughtfully, looking up into the sky. "This is what he means by his words. And I didn't even notice it because I was blind. I was blind to see the truth because I missed him so much."

        "His condition is quite severe Hitomi. After he collapsed, his eyes no longer opened. His past is locking him up now, destroying whatever strength he had."

        Slowly, Hitomi clasped both of her hands on her heart, feeling the ache within as the wind slowly moved in, trying to sooth her melancholy heart. The words that Van spoke to her last meant the truth. Everything now made sense. The black feather, symbolize death, and the white feather, symbolizes life yet the glow died due to his dying body, trying to stay strong and live. Hitomi couldn't believe that she didn't foresee this. Her thoughts wondered and wondered, trying to ease the pain in her heart. The memories she had of Van started to take over her mind, making her pain becoming to its true purpose. "V-Van…" she said shakily, more fresh tears coming down her cheeks. "I don't know what to do anymore. I can't follow my heart if I don't have the key to Gaia."

        "You do have the key, Hitomi," said Varie. Slowly, Varie walked to her and kneeled in front of her, touching Hitomi's clutched hand in her heart. "It lies within your heart. Try to find deep within your heart the key of all emotions. Your grandmother said to believe and your wishes will come true. The most important person back on Gaia needs you there by his side, Hitomi. He needs you there to break the seal within his locked doors of his past. You must return to Gaia and save him. You are the only one can unlock the door, Hitomi."

        "But…but…"

        "Believe in yourself. Believe in your wishes. Believe in him to wait a little while longer. Don't let his spirit be one with the stars."

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          The night of blissful sleep started to wake Hitomi up from her dream. She sat up, looking into space as she absorbed the passed dream she had. Her heart seemed determined and enlightened, no longer holding the confused and helpless hurt she had. Right then, she knew what to do. "In order for me to keep me from this grief, I must return to Gaia. I don't have any other choice. I must let Van die. He is too special for me to let go."

        Swiftly, she stood up from her bed and started to pack every belonging she had, leaving only some in her room since she doesn't anything too much. From there, she grabbed a sleeveless white shirt and dark denim blue pants. Putting on her white shoes, she put down her bun and let her long hair flow out. Seeing that it doesn't need to be brushed, Hitomi put her bow inside her bag, along with the brush.

        Taking one glance at the mirror, she grabbed her backpack purse and duffel bag and headed straight out her bedroom door. The clocked ticked and turned to the time 1:00.

        Hitomi ran down the stairs hurriedly when she spotted her mother sitting in the living room, waiting for her expectantly. Her mother smiled, getting up from her seat and walked towards her daughter. "I knew you would be going Hitomi. Since now you are growing up, you now have the ability to determine what is right and what is wrong. And right now, you are doing the right thing. Believe in yourself Hitomi, and you will get your wish. Go to him, Hitomi. Go to Van."

        Hitomi nodded and smiled. "I promise I won't be long."

        "Nonsense. You can come anytime. I know you will be safe up there and take care of yourself. Remember, I am always proud of you."

        Hitomi smiled and hugged her mother one last time. "Thanks mom. Good bye." Releasing the two-minute hug, Hitomi turned and looked at the house once last time. With a smile, she turned around and headed into the warm and cool night of spring.

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        Hitomi ran as fast she could to the train station before it closes at two. Due to the practice in track meets, Hitomi made it to the train station just in time, sitting silently in her seat, the third person to come in at this very late time at night.

        Van's face still consumed her mind, now stronger than ever in her mind. Hitomi looked out the window with a determined look in her eyes, trying her to best to do what is right. She would never give-up. She would go and do her best to cure Van's sickness and to break the seal upon him to move on. She clutched her heart fervently with her hands, looking out with a determined frown upon her face. "Van, please hang in there. I'm coming. Please hang in there for me. Don't die on me," she whispered, hoping her words would reach his dormant mind.

        The train moved fast through the railroads, rattling sounds come and go every five minutes or so. With the fast speed, the scenery before her flickered through like a shooting star speeding too fast into the sky of space. The path ahead was on focus and no thoughts could ever burden Hitomi. With the will to help others to keep on living, she had the courage and will to make their wishes come true.

        The train stopped abruptly in the designated area and Hitomi rushed out of there as fast as she can to her old high school. Patters of her running feet started to consume the whole quiet neighborhood, her duffel bag and backpack purse bouncing up and down from her fast pace run. Her heart started to beat quickly and her lungs started to pain her, yet that won't stop her. She kept on running, going through the tunnels where Yukari once told her about Amano leaving the country to England a little 3 years ago. She jumped up every step up on the tall stairways without tripping falling due to her careless positions. Yet, she made it up the stairs, sweat pouring down her brow rapidly, even though the night was a bit cool during spring. It would have been easier if she had her track clothes on, but it is too late to think that. She doesn't care how sweaty or how dirty she looked. Hitomi had to reach her goal.

        She ran through the small shops in a street up ahead, with some people taking heed of her desperate running. She jumped over fences for short cuts, sprinting when the sidewalks suddenly sloped down. Within the next area, Hitomi stopped by a nearby tree, kneeling to it to finally catch her desperate breathing. Slowly, she stood up straight to see the building of her old High School. With a smile, she jogged all the way down to the track fields.

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        The winds started to consume the whole track field, the loose leaves flying here and there to one side. The leaves swooshed and passed Hitomi's standing form, looking intently at the track figure. Above, the moon started to loom over her, as if it was spying on what she is about to. Her honey brown hair swayed along the winds, feeling that the wind is Van's desperate call for help. "Van…I can hear you. I will be there very soon. Please hang on. I'm counting on you to be strong. Please, don't let the winds die down. I need to know that you are still alive and trying to fight it off."

        Right then, as if her call was answered, a faint white glow started to penetrate Hitomi's backpack. She looked at it and opened her bag, revealing the white feather, its white glow coming and going as if trying to fight it. Hitomi smiled and nodded. "He's fighting it. He's fighting it right now. Don't give up, Van." Slowly, she held the feather to her heart with both hands clasping gently and firmly around. She lifted her head, looking at the whole track field one last time. "Please let this work." She closed her eyes, concentrating on the feather's remaining powers and her close concentration on Van, picturing his unruly hair, his lean, firm figure, his skinny legs, his tanned skin, his scent that she loved so much, and his deep burgundy eyes that would always capture her.

        Slowly, her heart began to open and she silently began to talk, as if in a chant. "By the powers of the gods, by the powers of my wishes…please give me the power to bring myself back to Gaia. A helpless being is in need of my help, and I must save him from his death." Her heart began to ache, thinking about the last words he said to her.

        "Sayonara…Hitomi…" Her eyes hardened and she began to tremble sadly, trying to hold her tears away. She desperately wants this to work. She couldn't stand this anymore. After going through a lonely life after the adventures of Gaia, all Hitomi could do is try to forget the sorrows she had by studying so much and concentrating on more sophisticated work than for fun. She would always think that taking much fun of life would remind her of her friends, of Van. So, Hitomi pushed away all procrastination, and studied fully on her school. Now, after denying the fun she used to endure, this has to happen. Hitomi and Van are linked, and they know how each other feels. One can feel sad and lonely, while the other happy and outgoing. Yet, they kindred spirits who need the one source to make them happy. Love.

        "Please…hear my wishes…please send me back to Gaia. Please send me back to him. I want to see him again. I want to see Van!" One crystal tear fell from her cheek and into the feather, a sign that is desperately asking for the Gods' power to bring her back.

        Once the wet substance fell upon the feather, the glow around the feather started to glow immensely. Hitomi looked down by surprise and watched the feather suddenly lift upwards toward the sky. With one blinking moment, the feather disappeared and called upon the familiar blue pillar of light. Hitomi looked up and felt her feet leaving the ground below.

        "I'm…going back," said Hitomi surprisingly. "I'm finally returning." Hitomi smiled as she closed her eyes, letting the light carry her above. "I'm returning…to Gaia."

        Birds started to fly everywhere, frantic by this sudden mishap. The light from the ground lifted and sped up into the sky above, disappearing instantly without a trace, carrying the Seers along with it. The white feather that held the key to the opening of the blue gate started to drift down where Hitomi once stood, its glow still there. As it touched the ground, the whole feather phased off and became invisible, showing the sign of a love one fighting for his will to live.

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        Somewhere in the depths of the castle, a faint, pink glow started to penetrate in a limp tanned palm. The movement of the palm started to twitch as the whole pendant started to dangle, twirling around like the seconds of a clock. "Hitomi…" mumbled a young man in bed, pain stricken in his handsome face with the invisible streak tears coming from his eyes. The glow started to come immensely, lighting the whole room with its mystifying glow.

        The glow awakened a young cat-girl from her sleep in the foot of bed, lifting her head off the ground from her cat-like sleeping posture. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and stood up, curious about the strange glow. "Mmm…what is…?" Instantly, the cat-girl soon was wide-awake as she realized the glow was coming from the pendant.

        "Hitomi's Pendant? Glowing at this time?" she asked, cocking her head from her little inspection. "But why now?" Suddenly, it struck her so hard it made her head spin from the realization. "Could it mean…?"

        Outside the peaceful night, a strange, pillar of white light started to strike the whole area, letting in the bright light into the dark room. The cat-girl covered herself from the glow impact, making sure that nothing hits her in the way of the light. The light dimmed, and the cat-girl looked up, with happiness and hope in her blue eyes. "It's her. It's Hitomi! She's back!"

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        *End of Chapter 3- Visions to Return

        So what do you think? Please review and hopefully Chapter 4 will be up pretty soon. I know it's sad, but it will get you happy soon enough, I hope. Thanks for reading ^_^ Ja Ne, minna-san!!!