Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. So do not sue me!!
Hi everyone and welcome to Chapter 10 of Escaflowne: Together Yoyokagirinaku. I'm sorry about the long, long daily since school got hectic and I'm sorry for making Van faint again. But you know, I did it for a specific reason. And I won't tell you. You have to read through the story to find out. Oh, and thank you all for the reviews!! But anyways, I hope you guys like this one. Please review and enjoy the story!!
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Reenactment
"Van!" cried Hitomi as she ran to his side and caught him. "Van, are you all right?" she asked, shaking him fervently, looking into his closed eyes. "This is all my fault. Why did I let my emotions take over me?" She slowly put his limp body onto her lap. "Please Van, open your eyes. Please…I want to hear your voice…Van…please wake-up…" No response came as she looked into his closed eyes that once held so much passion within them. Slowly, she put her hands against his palm, feeling if his pulse was still there.
Abruptly, Hitomi froze into cold fear. Her green eyes started to widen in shock as she gazed into Van's peaceful face. "Van…no…it couldn't be…" She checked again to gain the same results. "No…"
Van's pulse suddenly stopped.
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Chapter 10- The curse of the Draconians…
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Hitomi frantically opened his suit to reveal his well-developed chest. Tears streamed as she put her hands in the middle, trying to pump his heart to bring back his beat as she learned this method during college whenever someone is without breath. "Please Van, don't die on me. I need you more than anything. Please Van, breath," she said, pumping in and out, trying to hold in the sobs.
The peaceful face that Van has shown made Hitomi frantic as ever. What if he dies right now? She wouldn't be able to gather the strength to apologize to him for letting her emotions say the false things. All she wanted was Van to live. She doesn't want another person that she held close to her heart die. Especially when it's the person she loved so much. She pushed harder than the first one, trying to bring back his beating heart come to life. "Van…" she said, sobbing for his life.
From afar, sounds of running footsteps were heard, but it didn't give Hitomi's attention. The sounds of the footsteps belonged to Allen, Merle, Millerna, Dryden, Kyoko, and everyone else from the ball. When Allen sighted Hitomi holding a unconscious Van on her lap, he immediately went her and his side. He felt for Van's pulse, and there is nothing.
"Hitomi what happened?" asked Allen, seeing that Hitomi was still desperately pumping air into Van's lungs.
"Allen, please, don't bother me," said Hitomi, tears flowing freely through her eyes. "I need all the concentration to bring Van back."
Kyoko stepped in front, seeing Hitomi touching Van's limp body. "What are you doing? I told you not get near-"
"Will you shut up!?" retorted Merle, blocking her way from ever reaching Van. "This is not the time for you to bicker! Can't you see how hard Hitomi is trying to bring Lord Van back?"
Kyoko looked incredulously at her, forming a fist to punch the cat-girl out of her way. Yet, people were looking at her, watching how would she react to this. Kyoko's stance softened, and looked at Van momentarily. Within those linger moments, Kyoko showed no emotion whatsoever as she gazed into Van's dead-like expression. Then, out of the blue, as if something hit her like lightening bolt through her mind, tears started to form in her eyes. With one squeal, she started to take off, heading into the direction of the ball. The majority, mostly elders, ran after her to calm her down.
Merle just growled, knowing what she knows about Kyoko and her out bursting tears. "…Faker," she said bluntly and looked at Van.
Millerna came to Hitomi's side and massaged her stiffened shoulders as Hitomi desperately pushed and pushed non-stop. "You got to open your eyes, Van. Please open them…for me," she said and kept on pushing.
For the on going minutes, Hitomi kept on trying to wake Van while the other's wait, sobbing grievingly as they watched the Seer brining their King back to life. Millerna watched on, directing Hitomi to do the right way. Allen felt for Van's pulse yet it still never came. Hitomi sighed and put her hands away from Van, holding her hands close to her heart. "No good, it's not working," said Millerna, bowing her head low.
"Van…" said Hitomi softly, closing her eyes sadly. "I tried everything I can…and now…I don't know what to do. Please…someone help him. This is all I can do."
A faint glow started to give Hitomi's attention. She opened her eyes to see her pendant around Van's neck, glowing immensely. "My…pendant," said Hitomi, grabbing it softly and cupping it to her hands.
"Van never taken that off ever since you gave it to him," said Merle, putting her hand on Hitomi's shoulder. "He wished so hard for you to come back."
Slowly, Hitomi clasped it in both of her hands, and started to concentrate. In her mind, she prayed and wished for Van to return to her. She wanted him to know that the words she spoke were not true. She only said that because she let her feelings control her mind. "I'm sorry…Van. I'm sorry for reacting as I am. Because I was so worried that if I see you two get married, it will pain me so much that I actually lost someone I truly cared for. That is why I tried avoiding you…because if I get close to you, I might be hurt ten times more than my father's death. Please Van…come back…I need you. I…miss you…so much." A single tear from her cheek trickled down to Van's face, slipping slowly through his cheek to the ground.
In that lingering moment of sadness, the pendant have started glow, covering the bodies of Hitomi and Van. Inside that very light, she could feel the sudden warmth penetrating from it. The smell of the field lingered around that area, which comforted Hitomi so much as she closed her eyes and let it sip through her body. A huge sigh started to come forth as Hitomi suddenly opened her eyes to see Van moving. Hitomi's hope shot right up when she felt his warm breath.
The light died down as everyone looked at the two. Allen could feel a faint pulse coming from Van and he smiled. "Van's pulse! It's coming back!" The people sighed contentedly, knowing that their King is all right. People cheered for the Seer has rescued Lord Van once more. Slowly, the peaceful look turned to wince as Van slowly opened his brown-reddish eyes to see Hitomi looking down at him. He looked questioningly at her, wondering the sudden change of behavior within. "Van!" she said, looking tearfully at him.
Van cocked his head. "What…happened?" he asked, grasping his head. "Damn, I gotta big headache."
"I'm…just happy…that you're okay!" said Hitomi, kneeling into his chest to hear his beating heart. Van blushed and blinked for a few minutes, his mind is still oblivious with everyone around. Slowly, he looked around his surroundings to see Allen, Merle, Dryden, and Millerna smiling relieving at him.
"Hitomi once again rescued your life, Van," said Dryden with a smile. Van still has that questioning look on his face, remembering only one thing that happened just thirty minutes ago when Hitomi and him were alone in the gardens, talking emotionally. Once Dryden opened his eyes after his relieving smile, a sudden chill spread through Dryden as he saw something in Van's eyes deep within. No one noticed only except the young merchant, squinting a bit to see if his sight is correct. Dryden scratched his head unknowingly. "Dark?"
Slowly, Hitomi stood up, helping Van off the floor. As he stood on both feet, Van suddenly stumbled, leaving Hitomi to hold him up. "Van, are you okay?" she asked.
He shook his head and started to put his hand on top of his forehead painfully. With one determined look, Hitomi started to walk, holding Van limply to her. "Merle, can you help me? I need to bring Van to his room." Merle nodded and started to help Van towards the door.
Allen watched as the three headed into the direction of the rooms. Knowing what to do, he turned to the group of people that watched Hitomi, Van, and Merle leave. "People of Fanelia. I am sorry to inform you that the ball is cancelled due to circumstances of King Van's condition. Please be sure to tell everyone about this mishap."
The people all understood the Knight's words and they all started to leave, only with Allen, Dryden, Millerna, and Chid alone in the gardens. "What do you suppose happened to Lord Van?" asked Chid questioningly to his Aunt.
"I'm not really sure Chid. I guess the only choice is that we ask Hitomi the problem later," said Millerna.
Dryden looked wondrously at the sky, feeling the winds suddenly gusting negative vibes. As an expert in nature's signs, he knew that something is up. Slowly, he turned to the studies. "Dryden, where are you going?" asked Millerna, noticing that Dryden didn't speak another word after Van awakened.
"…I'm heading into the library. I have a lot of research to do," said Dryden, with a stern look on his face. Slowly, he turned away from the group and headed straight to the castle's library.
Millerna looked curiously at Dryden, tapping her right foot thoughtfully. "I wonder what he is up to?"
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Merle slowly opened the doors for Hitomi and Van to go in. Hitomi looked at Van as he somehow dozed off a bit from coming up here. She thought that he was just tired from the major ordeal. Slowly, she sat him up on his bed, removing the garments off his body. Merle quickly grabbed his usual attire and handed it to Hitomi.
"Van, what's wrong?" asked Hitomi, putting on his red sleeveless shirt after taking off his top from his formal clothing.
Slowly, he looked up at Hitomi, with his eyes that looked so sick and drowsy. "…I'm not sure, Hitomi. I feel suddenly tired," he said, sort of dazing off once again.
Hitomi slowly took off the whole formal suit, leaving only his tan pants on. She gave the formal clothes to Merle after folding them neatly. She looked at Van's sleepy face and felt his forehead. She was surprised the temperature was beginning to burn up. "Van, you're burning up. Is it something that you ate? Did you scrape some poison on you?" she asked worriedly, helping him into bed.
Van shook his head weakly, feeling his eyes droop suddenly after he hit the soft pillow. He didn't say a word after that as he gazed into Hitomi's face. She looked into his sleepy eyes and smiled at him, stroking his hair back from his eyes. "My poor Van. I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything," she said apologetically.
"D-don't be…" he said gently, his voice almost to a whisper. "You did nothing wrong…because you can't quite figure out what you're feeling now."
"But…I still don't understand myself," she said, stroking his cheek passionately. "I don't understand why I'm still here…even though..." She smiled once more at him.
Van just smiled and weakly stroked her hair. "Don't worry about it, Hitomi. You will understand," he said.
"Van…" she said, looking intently into his eyes. He could feel the sleep consuming him.
"Hitomi," he said, closing his eyes. "Look on your bed…" Right at that moment, Van fell asleep instantly. Hitomi could hear the soft breaths from him as he slowly breathed in and out. She couldn't help but smile, seeing his angelic face once more when he sleeps. It almost reminds her of her little brother when he sleeps on her lap whenever they watch a marathon of Anime. But what does he mean by his words?
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Just few minutes after seeing Van off to sleep, Hitomi couldn't but wonder what was in store for her in her own room. She opened her door to her room and slid it quietly as she kneeled to it, looking out into space thoughtfully about those passed events. "Van…never taken off my pendant. But…I thought he would be taking it off once he was betrothed to Kyoko," she said wondrously. Lifting herself off, she went straight to her closet, dressing into her pajamas. She slowly hanged her dress on the same hanger it was on before. "Van…I wonder if he will be okay," she whispered, kneeling her forehead against the closed closet doors.
She never felt this much confusion in her life. Sure, she was confused with her love life between Van and Allen, but she came to an understanding that she loved Van all this time. Yet, after she came back to Gaia, and seeing Van and all of them again, she seemed utterly confused still. Her feelings were straight, but not quite completed. All she knows is that her sad and mournful thoughts would always confuse her mind.
Sighing, she kneeled off the door and went to her bed. As she started to lift the comforter off, Hitomi was surprised to see something right on her pillow. On her white, soft pillow, her sketchbook was found, closed firmly without any dent on its edges. As Hitomi touched the smooth cover, Hitomi somehow had the feeling that she needs to look at it. Those words that Van spoke about something on her bed, could he mean by her sketchbook? Slowly, Hitomi grabbed her sketchbook and sat on her bed, looking intently at the cover.
For the next few minutes, she sat there, looking intently at her sketchbook as if it was a curse that she could not get to sleep. No words came through his mouth as he looked at its features. Somehow, she was quite reluctant to open the book. It's as if her own book was some kind of enemy. Why was she so resentful to look at her own drawings? What could have possibly stopped her?
"Hitomi…look on your bed…" The images of Van's handsome face consumed her mind, taking amend to his words that somehow weren't that strong as before. Hitomi knew that if she didn't follow his words, it would hurt him. And as a dear friend to him, she wouldn't do that to him. She loved him still, no matter what. Slowly, she opened the pages of the book, seeing everything remains the same. Hitomi looked through every single sketched page, seeing that nothing has changed. When she came upon the last page, the picture of Van was still unfinished. She remembered that she was abruptly surprised by Merle's snooping around and surprised when Van was just going to look through it.
"There's nothing here," said Hitomi. Sighing, she was about to close the book when she noticed something peaking out of the book behind the last page. Blinking, she reopened her book to the last picture she drew again. Hitomi looked at the object that was peaking out of the page. Looking questioningly at it, she slowly drew hand towards it. When she touched, Hitomi was surprised that it felt so soft and silk like one of Van's feathers from his beautiful wings. Then, she realized it is Van's feathers. She opened the page and looked at his feather. Below the feather, she was surprised to see a beautiful drawing that was so detailed and shaded so well. Below the drawing, was a name signed: Van Slanzar de Fanel…dated few days ago, just before the day of the ball.
"Van? Van drew this?" Hitomi said surprisingly, inspecting his drawing observantly. As she gazed into the picture, she notices it was himself, with his wings around him that was drawn so detailed that it almost looks real. Right then, he noticed he was holding something in his arms so zealously. To her surprise, it was herself, leaning against to him from behind, looking passionately into his closed eyes. Hitomi expected to be Kyoko with him, yet it wasn't. Hitomi couldn't believe her eyes that it was him and her looking out into the beautiful sky with stray feathers almost going around him. Below the picture, she managed to see a little imprint. She squinted a bit and read the note inscribed there.
His imprint said this: "Hitomi…I'm sorry…I'm sorry for everything. I noticed that our friendship is beginning to distance…but every time I am not near, I feel all alone. I wanted to talk to you so badly, but you kept on avoiding me with no good reason. I don't know how this whole mess started…but one thing for sure…I'm always thinking about you…Hitomi…please don't let our friendship end because of my actions…I miss you…so much…
*~Van…~*
Tears started to form in Hitomi's eyes as she knew that note somehow meant all meaning, including the detailed drawing of them that showed how much Van was thinking about her and how much he truly missed her. This explains the words that Dryden meant. Van was really working on this drawing. Since he couldn't say it in front of her due to her arrogance to ignore, he has one only choice to draw what he really means it. She firmly hugged the drawing to her chest, sobbing silently to herself. "Van…" she said. "W-what…what have I done? What was I thinking…? Am I blind too?"
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All over in Fanelia castle, people are peacefully sleeping the in the comforts of their beds. Without a mind of worry, sleep is the only solution for a restless day to bring them another day of renewal. However, along the dark halls of the castle, only one light is visible. It is from the studies and a lot of sounds of rustling started to consume the quiet halls, with books dropping and papers quietly falling down to the ground.
"No, no…that's not it!" yelled a voice exasperating. It has been only four hours since the mishap of Van's condition, and by now, Dryden is still reading through the loads of books in Van's study room. Dryden rubbed his temples. He was so busy with researching that he didn't realize that time have gone by fast. With the piles of books on the desk, people could very well tell that he has been working too hard. "Those dark eyes…I know they symbolize something," said Dryden. "I heard of this legend that actually revolves around that. But I can't seem to pin point what it is!"
Dryden continued to look around for answers through the books, yet it didn't satisfy him one bit. He grumbled annoyingly, rubbing his forehead. "Damn it, why can't I find it?!" yelled Dryden as he slammed his fist right on desk angrily.
Once then, a book from the top shelf suddenly fell right on top of Dryden's head, making him yell from that little situation. "Stupid book!" he retorted. He was about to throw it across the room when stumbled surprisingly by the title. He looked questioningly and read the title. He smiled. "This is it!"
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The morning has finally come and a bright new day fulfilled the air. People started to get off their lazy heads and started to go through their own daily routine, as if nothing truly happened.
The sun slowly reached Hitomi's window and spread the light into the whole glamorous room. Wincing, she faced away from the window and tried to go back to sleep. "Hitomi…" said a voice near her. Hitomi moaned, irritated from the sound that is disturbing her blissful sleep. "Hitomi…it's time to wake up," said a voice, somehow in an amused tone.
Defeated, she turned around and opened her eyes slowly to see something black on top of a tanned skin. "I see you're waking up," said Van, smiling down at her.
Hitomi shot right up, fully awake by her surprise to see Van in the morning. She was too speechless to greet him a good morning. "What? Am I that cursed to scare you?" asked Van jokingly.
"Don't say that about yourself," said Hitomi, finally able to gather the courage within her. "I was just surprised that I would see you here first thing in the morning. And besides, I thought you would be with Kyoko."
"Why would you always say that I would be with Kyoko?" asked Van questioningly.
"Because…you are in love with her. Besides, you have a reputation to hang around with high class people other than hanging around with a little commoner like me," said Hitomi sadly.
Van shook his head. "No, don't say that. I hang around you because I'm your friend. I don't care about ranks," he said. "Besides, you are more important than my health."
Hitomi looked up into his eyes. She could see the happy expression in them like she would rarely see him in. Yet, when she looked into those eyes of his, somehow, the look is different. Slowly, Hitomi leaned in closer to check into them, seeing Van suddenly tensed due to that fact. He blushed rapidly when she looked at him like that, so near and so beautiful, even when she sleeps. "Van…are you okay? I mean, last night, you weren't feeling better and your seem a bit darker. It's as if…that light in them disappeared."
"What do you mean?" asked Van questioningly. "I feel perfectly fine."
"But I'm still not convinced," she said, concerned. Slowly, she extended her hand to his forehead to feel the temperature. To her surprise, it felt so cold. "Van…" She moved her hand from his forehead to his cheek, neck, and hand. "You…feel so cold…"
"Cold? You mean…my attitude?"
"No, silly. You're skin…it feels so cold," said Hitomi worriedly. "What's going on? One night, you were so hot and burning up…then now…you feel so cold."
Van slowly drew his hand to her hand, feeling her warmth penetrate his cold temperature. "Don't worry, Hitomi. I'm perfectly fine." He smiled and started to get up, helping Hitomi out of the bed. "See, if I was sick, I couldn't even stand up on two feet."
"Van…"
Van slowly let go of her hand, heading into the direction to the balcony. "Hitomi, like I said, don't worry about me. I'm perfectly fine." He opened the curtains of the door to reveal a nice sunny day suddenly turning gloomy. Hitomi, in that moment, could feel something is coming up. She felt a cold sweat forming her mind. She started to shiver uncontrollably. "What's with this I'm feeling?" she thought.
Van turned around and smiled. "Go ahead and dress…" His face suddenly fell, looking pale as ever in that very moment. "…I'll wait…for you…h…e...r…e…" Van's eyes suddenly closed, which shook Hitomi to her feet. With his eyes closed, Van started to fall limply onto the floor. Hitomi swiftly went into his side and caught his cold, limp form.
"Van!!"
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"Fainted?" asked Allen, turning around to Hitomi who was holding onto Van's cold hand. Rain started to consume the whole land of Fanelia as the bright day wore off after just thirty minutes. Hitomi was dressed with her blue jeans and her white, tied spaghetti strap shirt, as she sat at the edge of his bed, looking intently into Van's face.
"Yes, he was only in my room for a few minutes after I woke up," she said, massaging his hand gently. "I'm worried about him, Allen. First, it was his pulse. Then, it was his burning temperature. Now this."
Allen nodded, absorbing the matter within his mind. "Do you know what's causing this misfortune?"
Hitomi shrugged her shoulders. "Considering the fact that I let my feelings override me, it's my fault for letting him be in this state of his."
"H-Hitomi…it wasn't your…fault…" said Van, suddenly opening his eyes.
"Van!" she cried, leaning closely into his face. "Are you okay?"
He smiled weakly. "I guess…I'm not…Hitomi. I'm…sorry to worry you like this…"
Hitomi shook her head. "Van…tell me…what's wrong with you? That night…something sipped into you…did it? Something that suddenly removed that shine in your eyes," said Hitomi.
Van nodded his head and slowly looked up into the ceiling. "It…has finally gotten to me," said Van sadly. "The very lineage that stopped for centuries in my Draconian ancestry. I just realized it when I was sleeping last night."
Hitomi looked into his dull eyes. "What do you mean?"
"He meant by the curse of the Draconians," said a voice coming out the halls. The three looked up to see Dryden smiling at them, holding a book in his hands. "You see, Van has been cursed."
"Cursed?" asked Hitomi in despair. "What curse?"
Dryden was about to say something when Kyoko came in, shoving him inside as if he was a door. Kyoko saw Van in his bed and she swiftly went to his side, making Hitomi wrench the grasp from his. "Van, I'm so glad that you are all right! I was worried you may never wake up."
"I'm fine…Kyoko…I'm fine," said Van, as if spaced out.
Hitomi just gave another one of her pouts and walked over were Dryden and Allen stood. "Dryden, what do you mean by the curse?" she asked, clasping her hands together as if praying.
Dryden looked into the depths of her green eyes, seeing the worry, the sadness, the love for Van that she hid from everyone else. He smiled after he noticed this. She still is in love with Van. "Come on, let's discuss this with the other's in Van's study room," he suggested.
"Let me be in it too," said Kyoko quite suddenly. "I want to know myself what's going on with…Van…since…I'm sooo concerned with him." Hitomi didn't like the tone within her voice. Kyoko somehow seemed reluctant to say the truth, yet Hitomi let that pass…for now.
"Whatever," said Dryden with a shrug. "Come on, we have to go quickly before it's too late."
Kyoko, Dryden, and Allen walked out the door when Hitomi suddenly stopped in the doorway, looking at Van who was staring intently at her. She wore a worried expression on her face. The Seer didn't want to leave him all alone in the room looking like this. She turned around and was about to walk into his room again when his voice rang through her thoughts. "Don't worry about me, Hitomi. Go with them…I'll be fine…" he thought to her with a smile.
Still, she hesitated to move her eyes away from him. Hitomi was too worried of what might happen to him if she left. She promised herself that she would not leave his side, even with this bazaar condition. Shaking her head, she tried to say something when Van's thoughtful words consume her mind. "Hitomi…you need to know this. It's important…to learn more about a Draconian than only its wings." She looked at Van's face to see a sadness plastered on his face. "Please…Hitomi…for me?"
Hitomi couldn't sustain anymore of this suspense. She smiled at him with care in her eyes. "I'll be back to check up on you…Van. Don't die on me," she said and walked hastily to catch up with the others.
Van smiled and slowly closed his eyes for another rest.
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In the depths of Van's study area, all friends, including Kyoko and Chid, sat around, looking at Dryden who apparently is looking through a book that read Legends of the Draconians. Dryden flipped through the thick book, looking observantly at the little words and the pictures of the winged people and looking through some minor information about the Atlantians. As everyone waited patiently, Hitomi looked through the huge study room full of books about the history of Fanelia and Gaia. She looked fondly at them, noting to herself that she should come more often to learn about Gaia. Yet, when her mind lingered to the title of the book, Hitomi grew worried once more that concerns with Van's dreadful condition. She looked at her hands, remembering the feel of his skin so cold against her warm ones. It's as if she is touching an ice with her only bare hands. She trembled at that thought.
"Don't worry, Hitomi," said Merle, patting Hitomi's shoulder comfortably. "Van will still hold back whatever it is put upon him. I'm sure he'll pull through."
"But you don't understand Merle," said Hitomi, clutching her open palm. "When I felt Van, he feels so cold and weak. I can't stand the thought of him like this. I got this feeling that he will die any second. And I don't want to see him going through this phase of death once more. It's the same situation when I was anxious my father died in that accident. I felt it."
"Hitomi, please calm down," said Millerna, hearing the distress within Hitomi. "If anyone can do it, Van can."
Hitomi nodded her head reluctantly, with the lingering icy thought that always cripes up her spine. "At least all of us are worried about Van except for a certain person," whispered Merle, pointing to Kyoko who was flirting with Gaddes, who had an annoying expression on his face. Merle sighed. "And I thought she was the first one ever to worry about Van."
"I never thought Kyoko would be more interested in reputation than love," said Millerna.
Kyoko began to laugh so aggravatingly that all around the friends started to shiver by her arrogant laugh. Hitomi sighed and tried her best to ignore Kyoko's laugh.
Dryden's face suddenly lightened up and looked at everyone, who had an annoyed expression on his/her face. "…Okay…I think I know were you guys are off to. But anyways, this is what I found," he said, showing a huge title that read, "The Curse of the Draconians." Hitomi, Merle, Millerna, Allen, Gaddes, and Chid were all quite interested in this except the Noblewoman who is laughing away.
"The Curse of the Draconians? That's just a silly old legend," said Kyoko. "And I know Van is not a Draconian. He is too handsome to be one of those cursed creatures."
Hitomi and everyone else wanted to kick her out by her snobbish attitude of arrogance. Yet, they didn't bring themselves to due so because it would be a waste of time. Dryden ignored her words and continued his briefing. "This is a legend that I always heard about in all the books I read back at home. Apparently, the Draconian's curse haven't pulled through for centuries because all new generations have gain the ability to have a medicine to immune the curse from their bodies."
He turned the page to reveal a picture of a dark blob with a sinister looking eyes and weird eyes. "This picture is known as the "Consumer." It is an evil force in which only burrows into the flesh of Draconians. These shadow folks existed when the whole Arcadia place suddenly collapsed after their brief mishap from using the Fate Alteration Machine."
Allen looked at carefully. "…but why are they the "Consumers?"
Dryden fixed his glasses and continued. "They are known as the Consumers due to the fact that they absorb the powers within one and take the life of one to keep itself alive. Apparently, these are only attracted to Draconians because they are the most advance race who wields mysterious powers that are more powerful than Zaibach's weird Sorcerers."
"Lord Van did tell me something about that when we were younger," said Merle thoughtfully. "But he only told me about their name and purpose."
"Could this be why all people call Draconians the cursed ones?" asked Hitomi questioningly.
"Yes. Each time the Draconians have gain the curse, bad mishap shall come forth around them like their town being burnt to the ground with no reason or they kill people by their disease. All Draconians wield good fortunes because they always think positively. Yet, once the curse comes, all things start to fall apart. Their wings will not turn black once they have the curse. But most likely, they will become too ill and their glow within their eyes will no longer be there. Not to mention the cold temperature they have in their bodies."
Hitomi looked at her hands, once again remembering the cold skin and the ill manner Van is in. "Van…"
"Just like Van in his state right now. In a few days or so, Van will be himself in the outside, yet, deep down, his health will lose its strength each day. And in a few weeks or so…Van will die."
Everyone gasped, completely hit by this sudden fate that Van will endure. "Tch, that's just a stupid legend," said Kyoko. "If you ask me, I think he'll be fine tomorrow. There is no stupid curse. There is no death fate. I know my Van will be okay."
Dryden just rolled his eyes. Hitomi suddenly stood up and went to the book, looking at it deeply. She was determined to find out more now. If Van's fate will end, she would crumble into nothing. "Dryden…how do they obtain the curse?"
"Hmm…let's see," Dryden said thoughtfully, looking up into the ceiling. "My guess it comes natural if one posses great power. Or either that…they wish to die sooner."
Hitomi suddenly froze, looking at the book wide eyed. The shadow lingering above the sky just behind Van, the sudden emotion surging through Van painfully, and the heart beat that suddenly stopped. Everything points to one thing and Hitomi knew were it points. Hitomi clutched the desk with trembling hands, feeling the tears swelling. "It's all my fault," said Hitomi chokingly.
"What do you mean?" asked Merle.
"It's all my fault that Van is in this state. I think…I made him wish that he was dead sooner because I told him that I hated him."
Kyoko stood up and started to charge at Hitomi, grabbing the collar of her shirt and looking angrily at the girl as if she was a commoner. "I knew you would bring bad misfortune to us, you fake heroine! I warned you all from the start that this girl is no good! She is nothing but a psycho bit-" Hitomi suddenly jerked from her grasp surprisingly, looking angrily at Kyoko.
"I am not what you think I am Kyoko," said Hitomi. "You may think that I am a cursed one. But I don't care what you say. As long as my friends like the way I am, they don't insult me like you do to people who you only know the outside and not the inside."
"That's right," said Merle, stepping beside Hitomi. "If it is Hitomi's fault, she will gladly step in and fix anything that done her wrong. Her feelings are true unlike yours."
Kyoko folded her arms and pouted. "I don't need a load of bull out of you, Merle. My feelings toward people are nice and caring. How can I ever be such a rude and conceited person?"
Everyone rolled their eyes behind her back. With a snobbish swing from her hair, she turned around and left the room, leaving all friends from three years ago in there. "Phew, I thought she'd never leave," said Merle.
"Dryden," said Hitomi, looking at the merchant's face. "Is there a cure to lift this curse?"
"…I haven't looked to that," he said, looking at the book. "But let me see." Dryden flipped through every page, looking at subtitles and imprints that read "cure." He sighed sadly and shook his head. "All I read is that…there is no cure to lift this curse."
Hitomi shook her head deniably and started to look through every book that has to do with Draconians. "What are you doing, Hitomi?" asked Allen, standing up from his position.
"What do you think I'm doing? I'm looking for a cure," said Hitomi, lifting another book.
"But there's nothing we can do," said Chid sadly. "The book said that there is no cure."
Hitomi looked up to see the faces of giver uppers. She couldn't stand this thought of negativity. She stood up tall and looked at everyone's faces with a determined look. "Look, you guys. I know that am in a state of sadness right now that Van doesn't have the same feelings for me," she said. "But I no longer care about that when I realized something when Van was in this state last night. It is my fault for letting my negative feelings run to Van, who wished for death right away. But…even if feelings are out of the question, I have a friend who needs my help." Hitomi slowly placed her hand to her heart. "Van is special to me in both ways. He taught me to make my own decisions than to just let everyone else do my decisions for me. He pulled me through the confusing state of my life and I am so grateful to have a friend who believes in me so much and I believed in him. I guess you can say I've forgotten that part when I was depressed. But one thing for sure, I am not going to let him die!" She shouted that last part with so much courage within her voice that it hit everyone hard. "No matter what the circumstances are, he is my best friend. And as friends, I am going to help him live and get rid of that dreadful curse. I love him more than anything in my life, and I am not going to let him be just a memory. I only ask of you is are you willing to help me?"
Hitomi looked at every single person who has his or her face down. Her words have cut through deep and she never truly had this kind of voice in all her life. She never spoke of encouragement due to the lack of self-confidence and pride. Hitomi now has spoken from her heart and let every feeling that she held to herself. As silence brewed upon the room, her friends started to absorb the strong, encouraging words. She spoke with dignity, pride, and trust, like she always was back then. With her speaking to Millerna about her love life, and Allen about forgiving his father, she spoke with truth and sense from either word.
Merle stood up in her seat and smiled. "I'll definitely help," she said. Hitomi smiled, counting her cat-girl friend to help Van.
Few seconds after Merle, Millerna stood up from her seat in the corner. "Me too! Hitomi helped me sort out my feelings. I'll help!"
Allen stood up right after. "You probably need a ship to travel. I'll help too! I am also Van's best friend and I won't let him die in such a young age."
"Same here," said Gaddes. "And me too," said Chid.
"Well, well, it's just like before," said Dryden, playing around with his glasses. "This is like old times. And of course you know that I am in too."
Hitomi smiled. She knew that they would come around help her. It's like old times and she is happy that everything is turning out the way she wanted. "Okay, we will start researching now. For the sake of Van!!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*End of Chapter 10- The Curse of the Draconians…
So what do you guys think? I hope you guys like this and please review!!! Arigatou for reading, and Ja Ne!!!!!! I'm probably going to fix this up a bit to make understandable for u guys pretty soon. Either that, just e-mail me if u have any more questions to be explained. Again, Ja Ne!!!^^
