hey,

it's been a while, but hopefully not too long.

just to let everyone know, i am really starting to get busy with school work, as time to apply to collage to getting close. And that i'm in art, (animation) and for those who know what that means, know that it's a lot of work. And for those who do not it's really alot of work, for not only do i need good grades, but i also need a really good portfolio. And i've been working quite a bit too. But all this means is that this story will just have longer periods of waiting time in-between. i will not abandon it. And i do try to find time to write. But please be patient. And send me reviews and PMs. they are what help me the most. So i thank every one who does. and i thank those who are Still reading this.

Thank you.

TheEndlessSnow - your wait is over... for now. Here is 'more'

serenityrain2233 - to be completely fair, i am not the first to think of having more than one pendant... i remember having read another FF or two with others having pendants. I just can't think of the titles of them at the moment...

Drakan - thank you. i have been curious about the green energist, and that little comment that Hitomi says about her pink one looking like Escaflowne's energist.

Kai58 - hey there. Thanks so much for your review. I hope that you enjoy this new chapter as well as the last one.

darkangel - i'm a little confused as to which story you are refering to... Mine, "Esca 2.." or Franks story, about their history... Which i did come up with my self, i even did research into it about Atlantis. As for Esca 2, no i did not coem up with it all by my self. it started as a RPG that i friend and myself started, but it didn't get all that far. Just up to like chapter two or three. and even those i can vagly remember as it was years ago that we kind-of started this. And well after i started writing it, it kind of became this monster that just won't leave me alone.

Arienhod - i agree that the green energist is a big mystery, and i hope you enjoy my version to the answer. As many writers leave it out, or forget about it. Asto your commonet about the ? mark. i like to keep people guessing. and after i finish this story i'm planning on editing it from the begging and adding in some stuff that i've thought up after i've posted chapters. And i thank you for reminding me about it.

Please Note:

this chapter jumps between two scenes, they will be marked with; XoXoXoX

Chapter 41: I'll Miss You

Van always rose with the sun. It was a habit of his that he got from the war…from always having to pack up camp or organize troops for an upcoming battle during the war. Then after the war there was always a house that needed to be built, with only the sun's light to work by. Then after the castle was re-built, he found that the early mornings were the only time that he got to himself. But this morning was the first time since the war that he did not want to get up.

The room that he was in faced East, so he was up very early…but found that he really just wanted to go back to sleep. It wasn't because he was tired from staying up so late... he had a bad habit of staying up late working on documents, treaties, and letters for his country. No…it was because he didn't want to disturb the tranquility of the moment.

Hitomi was still asleep, her left hand resting on his chest where she had left it earlier. There was just enough light to make the stone in the ring glow. Seeing the ring filled him with pride. She had chosen him…not Allen, or Amano (who really did look like Allen), or any other guy that she must have met through these last years. And they were already starting their family.

With his free hand, he stroked Hitomi's hair and started to wonder what caused her to grow it out. Hitomi sighed, "Van." Van froze. Did he wake her up? Her breathing stayed slow and deep. She was just talking in her sleep, kinda like the time after he rescued her from the Geckos.

She turned over in her sleep so her back was to him, whispering, "I love you..." His pulse quickened, and he had to remind himself to breath.

Would this always happen to him whenever she said those three little words…even when she says them when she's fast asleep and says them with no emotion? But before he could do anything, the lock in the door clicked and there was a small tap on the door before it was gently pushed open.

Joy entered the room bearing a pile of clothes. "Oh, you're awake," she said in a normal volume voice. Van glanced over to Hitomi, but was surprised that she was still asleep. "Don't worry about her," Joy stated pleasantly. "She can sleep though just about anything. I brought you both some clothes to wear for the day, and there's a few others who are up, so if you would like to come downstairs in a bit I can make you something to eat." She placed the pile on the foot of the bed, and gave the king a small bow before leaving the room.

Seeing that Hitomi really was still fast asleep and that he was getting hungry, Van decided to go and see what was for breakfast.

XoXoXoX

Some where else another was waking up as the Sun was blaring through his eyelids, making the pounding in his head intensify, forcing him to wake up. He lifted his hand to block the offending rays as he glared through his hand at the burning ball of gas that was his enemy…for the time being at least. He tried to remember what happened the night before, but could only remember the hazy blackness from all the alcohol he consumed. He figured that he must have had a lot judging from the pounding in his head. He sighed, and then noticed his surroundings. He was lying in a field of tall grass. He tried to think of where there was grass this long... but gave up quickly as thinking hurt. He groaned at the pain.

There was a noise a little ways away…hopefully it was just a small animal. He wasn't ready to move yet.

"Identify yourself," came a booming voice.

He squeezed his eyes shut. It was a cop.

Great.

Slowly he opened eyes, and looked at the cop, and couldn't believe what he was seeing.

XoXoXoX

Van was surprised to find that nearly every one was up. The exceptions were Hitomi of course, Kurisu, Master Kirijini, and Yukari. Though the ones who were up looked like they would rather still be in bed sleeping.

The only one who looked awake was Joy, who was in the kitchen, standing on a foot stool, stirring the contents of a pot. She smiled at him, saying, "Good morning."

"Good morning," was his mumbled reply.

There was a sleepy silence as everyone stood around…too tired to form any coherent conversation, waiting for breakfast to finish cooking. The silence was broken by someone's stomach growling as the fragrance traveled over to them.

XoXoXoX

The being who was standing over him who he thought was a police officer was anything but. This being was covered in fur, standing on two legs, and pointing a sword at his heart.

"Identify yourself," the creature repeated.

"I-" he started, but his thought was dry and so was cut off. He swallowed, and tried again. "I am Mamoru Kanzaki."

"Kanzaki?" the creature repeated, and turned to another, older, thing that was standing in the clearing.

"Let me see him," came the command. "Well he does look an awfully lot like her... hmmm...

"Take him to the village, but keep a close watch on him, and send a messenger to the palace," the older Thing ordered.

XoXoXoX

It was truly amazing what she could sleep through. They first tried to wake her, by softly calling her name, and shaking her shoulder. Then they tried an alarm clock, speaking her name louder and louder, banging pots and pans pulling most of the covers off of her, even pulling her out of bed. So there Hitomi lay, on the floor still fast asleep.

"This is useless," complained Yukari. They needed to wake her up, so as to give a proper good-bye because none of them knew when they might see their friend again, or her new husband.

"She's just like Sleeping Beauty when she gets like this," Yukari continued.

"YOU'RE A GENUIS!" cried Kurisu, seizing Yukari and kissing her on both cheeks.

"What?" Yukari asked, unsure as to what he meant.

"To wake the Sleeping Beauty, all we need is a kiss from Prince Charming," he explained.

He was about to hop over to the sleeping girl when Sam cut in, "Too bad you're not a prince."

"Nor charming," added Frank.

"Why do you hurt me so?" sighed Kurisu. "But alas, it is true friends who tell you the truth... even if it hurts. And you are correct... As I am only Prince Charming to my love, Sam... Though... Van, my Lord. You are much more then a Prince Charming to our fair maiden. So it will be your kiss that shall break the spell that has beset her."

And with a wink, they were gone.

XoXoXoX

All the way to the village the younger thing and his buddies - there were five more of them- kept their distance from him, and the older one stayed on the outside of the ring that the younger ones created. No doubt they were keeping their distance just in case he had a hidden weapon. Mamoru knew he didn't, but then again, the pounding in his head hadn't subsided just yet, and he was sure that he was a bit green around the edges. But none the less, he didn't want to make any sudden movements and end up on the sharp end of any of the swords, or worse, on the end of many swords.

During the walk he looked closer at his companions and decided that they looked like half wolf men. Great…Werewolves.

When they got to the village, Mamoru was surprised to find that it actually was a village. Not the kind of village he was used to seeing of the ancient traditional style houses, or even the American village with Ginger-bread houses. No…this was a real village…mud huts, thatched roofs, and all.

XoXoXoX

"Do you really have to leave today, Hitomi?" whined Yukari.

"I'm afraid so," Hitomi sighed. "We kinda left the whole place in an uproar at our announcement, and we have to help plan the wedding."

"I'm going to miss you!" said the red-head as she wrapped her honey-blond friend in a tight hug.

"I'll miss you too," Hitomi replied as she hugged her friend back. "I'll miss all of you."

"Just take care," Maketu told her and ruffled her hair.

"Don't forget us," came Joy's request.

"I don't think that I'll forget you, even when I'm old," Hitomi told her, touching her new pendant. They had destroyed the pink one she had after breakfast. It was not an easy thing to watch as it was one of the last things that her grandmother had given her, and that she had through out her childhood. But if it was only going to bring bad fortune to her and her friends, then it was for the best, right?

"Don't you be letting the bigger boys push you around, now you hear?" Miruton teased, giving her a hug as well.

Tsurara just gave Hitomi a hug…the two of them had always had a quiet understanding of one another.

"You two are destined for great things, so take care of each other. You both have found something unique, so treasure it," Master Kirijini told the newly weds.

" HITOMI, my darling…my everlasting sunshine," started Kurisu, "I just know that this will not be the end of us. You will return to me!"

"Ya, I'm sure that we'll all meet again before too long," said Sam.

"Remember, all of what we've told you. And stay safe," Frank told Hitomi, and then turned to Van, adding, "Keep her safe. It's taken us several millennia to find her, and it's not easy to let her go to a world where we cannot protect her. But we know that she has her destiny on your planet. So we bind her to you. Keep her safe."

XoXoXoX

Mamoru was led to one of the guest huts and given a bowl of water to wash in, food and drink. He was also given permission to walk around the village, much to the displeasure of the younger wolf who had awakened him. But he was warned that for the protection of everyone he would always have an escort.

XoXoXoX

Hitomi was kneeling in front of the double head stone that read, 'Mrs. Hitohana Kanzaki, and Mr. Juzou Kanzaki…Beloved parents, son and daughter, and great friends.' Hitomi was speaking in a soft voice, saying her last good-byes and her final respects in the event that she wouldn't be able to come back to this world.

Eventually she stood up, and faced Van, who was standing a respectful distance away. "It's time to go." Those words were the first she had said since all her friends had left to go to work, and school.

He closed the distance between them and took her free hand. Her friends had, in a last jest, packed an 'emergency kit' that she was to take with them, which she held in her other hand.

Van noticed the troubled look as Hitomi kept scanning the deserted cemetery, especially the front gate. "Are you sure you want to go right now?" he asked.

"Yes... It's just that I wish that Mamoru would show up so I can say a proper good-bye," she sighed, letting go of Van's hand and pulling the white pendant over her head.

XoXoXoX

Mamoru had stayed in his hut the rest of the day. The pounding in his head only started to subside as the light began to fade. He had been given food and drink, and was served by a female wolf, who he thought she said that she was one of the older wolf's daughters. But he couldn't remember if that was actually true or what she said her name was... he just didn't have the brain power to remember anything.

He must have fallen asleep, for the next thing that he knew, it was fully dark out and he could smell a bonfire fully under way. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to go and check it out.

The sleep must have worked for the pounding had greatly diminished. But all concerns about his head were forgotten as he stepped outside and looked up...

There in the sky was the moon, of course. But it was not the moon that he stared at. No, what he stared at was the Earth, floating behind the moon.

"Where am I?" he gasped.