Escaflowne 2 hitomi's return Chapter 41: The Boy From The Mystic Moon, an escaflowne fanfic

darkangel - sorry to hear about the Internet troubles, but i'm glad that you can at least read the story. Oh, and when this adventure is finally over, i shall be posting a last chapter with some tid-bits of info that i have woven into the story.

serenityrain2233 - thank you.

Emma-Louise 1993 - Yes he's on Gaea. now the question is; will he stay?

sousie - thank you,

Arienhod - yes i like Hitomi's friends as well they are just too fun to write about, and i doubt that Kurisu will let me cut him out of the story all together. so yes, i think that they will stay in the story at least a little... somehow.

Everyone: please read my author's notes at the end of the chapter,

thanks,

mysisterisasquijum

Chapter 42 : The Boy from the Mystic Moon

Mamoru was stunned as he stared at the night sky. The crazy story his sister had told everyone ten years ago, and again the night before, was true. Sure he was going to take her word for it…especially after seeing that guy's wings. But he obviously was not completely convinced of the story, judging by his shock. For he knew that it wasn't at all to do with the fact that he was staring at the Earth in the sky, but from a planet that was so obviously notMars.

He heard someone chuckling behind him, and found that it was the guard. It wasn't one of the young things that had escorted him to the village, nor was he the older thing, but looked to be around the same age as the older one.

"So Ruhm was right. You really aren't from here," said the guard.

"Ruhm?" Mamoru repeated the strange name.

"Yup. He's our Pack Leader. He wished to talk to you as soon as you woke up," the guard said, leaving no mistake that Mamoru had to go talk to this Ruhm. "So if you would follow me, I'll take you to him. I'm sure you may have a few questions for him."

Mamoru only nodded, still too stunned for words.

It turned out there were several fires situated in a clearing just off from the village. There was one large bonfire in the center, with flames that licked at the sky, well over the heads of the dancers around it. Many smaller fires were scattered all over the clearing where the villagers sat and watched the dancers, as well as socialized.

The guard led Mamoru to the other side of the bonfire, to a fire that was the closest to the dancers. As they passed through the clearing, Mamoru could feel the eyes of the villagers boring into him.

At the fire sat the older wolf creature who had greeted him. There was also the younger one who had woke Mamoru, and the girl was there too, holding a young toddler…who was giggling with glee at the dancing fire.

"Ruhm!" called the guard, catching the attention of everyone sitting at the fire. "I do believe that you are right, once again. Though why there was any doubt, I don't know," the guard crowed. The last bit was said with a quick glance to wards the younger wolf-man.

"Haru!" the older one, Ruhm, greeted, "It's good to see that you could come to the festivities after all."

"I agree, old friend," the guard replied as he sat down at the fire, facing away from the dancers.

"Sit," Ruhm told the still standing Mamoru, who sat slowly, conscious of the younger male glaring at him from across the fire. "Welcome to Arzas, young man. I am Ruhm. This here is my daughter Yasuko, her husband Ryoichi, their son, and Haru."

"I am Mamoru Kanzaki." Mamoru said carefully still unsure if he was with friend or foe.

They were quiet for a long time after the introductions. They all just watched the dancers, and listened to the drumming, as the beats got louder and faster with each song.

"Come, it's about time for our dance," Yasuko said to Ryoichi. "Time for you to go to Grandpa," she told the toddler, passing him over to Ruhm. Then the two got up and went to the bonfire; several more logs were added.

"You caught us on a very special night," Ruhm said to Mamoru, but looking down at his grandson. "It is the fortnight before we start to harvest our crops. So we thank the Gods for a good cycle, and ask for a good harvest to help us survive the Cold Moon Phases. But this year is extra special, as we have recently heard that our King shall be wed to a very special lady..." The music stopped and there was complete silence. The dancers had disappeared, replaced by the lone figure of Ryoichi. The fire was now so large that it was twice the size of the young wolf.

Then slowly, he began to move back and forth across the base of the fire, like the predator he so much resembled in Earth-lore. He disappeared on one side of the fire, and Yasuko appeared on the other, as delicate as a spring flower.

Faster and faster the two danced around the fire, weaving back and forth around the base. As Mamoru watched, the feeling that if the predator found the flower, he would crush her. And ever so slowly, he gained ground on her until he finally caught up with her. The drums then came thundering back in making every one in the clearing jump, and a few children cried at the shock.

But the oddest thing happened, when the predator got too close to the flower, the flower stood her ground and stared the predator down…taming it in a way. And they continued at this until they were dancing so close to each other that they were one figure…still moving around the fire, so as to give equal show to the entire clan.

Mamoru never got to see the end of the dance because he saw the little toddler, who was a moment before secured in Ruhm's lap, running towards his parents and the very large fire. Truth be told Mamoru wouldn't have noticed if an ember hadn't jumped out of his own fire and land painfully on his hand, breaking him out of the trance the two figures were casting on every one.

Instinct took over, and Mamoru bolted after the kid before he even thought about it.

The heat of the fire was blinding, and the light was blazingly bright…all that could be seen were dark shadows. Mamoru watched as the toddler tripped on what appeared to be a fallen branch, and start to fall towards the fire. With a final lunge, Mamoru caught the child by the sleeve and pulled the child up to his chest, stumbling away from the fire landing on the ground with a heavy thud…the child knocking the wind out of him.

By this time, the villagers were running to the bonfire, the music stopped, as well as the dancers. The boy was crying loudly from on top his chest, but Mamoru did not let him go until the child's mother came and picked him up.

"You…saved…my son," stated Ryoichi, completely awed, and helped Mamoru to his feet.

"Yeah," was all that Mamoru could wheeze out.

"Thank you. Our tribe owes you much," Ryoichi said sincerely.

"No... Problem..." Mamoru wheezed.

XoXoXoX

Ring...

Rin-

"Hello?" Yukari answered her phone back at the apartment.

"Hello, this is Dr. Kanzaki's office. Is Ms. Kanzaki in?" said the chipper voice on the other end.

"I'm afraid not."

"Well, do you know when she will be in?"

'It wouldn't be for a long time' Yukari thought. "I'm sorry, but I don't know. Can I take a message?"

"Well..." Yukari could hear the doubt in the other woman's voice. "It's just that Dr. Kanzaki did not show up to work today, and we were just wondering if there were any family emergencies."

'If only they knew.'

"I haven't heard anything," Yukari said.

"Well thank you anyway,"

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful. I will pass the message along as soon as I can." Yukari answered the woman.

"Thank you, good bye."

"Bye," Yukari pressed the button that disconnected the phone line, and then dialed another number...

Ring...

'Now who would be calling me at this time?' Frank thought to himself. Every one knew that this was his meditation hour, so who would be calling?

Ring...

Kurisu would.

Ring...

Maybe if he ignored it, Kurisu would give up and go away.

Ring...

Frank sighed and picked up his cell, "Hello."

"Frank," came Yukari's voice. "We have a problem."

XoXoXoX

Hitomi dumped her bag on her bed and started to take off her shoes. They had walked all day to get to the Castle, and now it was fully dark out, so Hitomi just wanted to relax in a nice warm bath.

Ring...

Hitomi looked around her room, startled.

Ring...

It sounded like her cell phone was ringing.

Ring...

And it sounded like it was coming from her bag.

Rin-"Hello?"

"Hitomi," came Franks voice in a very un-amused voice. "We seem to have lost your brother."

"What?"

"Who you talking to?" a voice called out from the door.

"Huh?" Hitomi turned to see Merle leaning against the door frame.

"Just a moment Merle…What do you mean you lost my brother?" Hitomi asked Frank.

"He didn't go to work today…he wasn't home, and he's not answering his cell," Frank replied.

"Hitomi," Merle piped.

"Well…that could mean anything," Hitomi said, trying to convince herself. "He could have had a major hangover from last night, and when you went to check his house he could have been out, and his cell could be dead."

"I wish that were it. But no one has seen him all day," Frank replied.

"Hey Hitomi!" Merle insisted.

"Hang on Frank…Yes Merle?" Hitomi asked.

"There was a messenger from Ruhm, who says that they found a 'Mamoru Kanzaki' by their village."

Hitomi sighed, "Thanks Merle... Frank. I think he's here."

"All right. Phone me back as soon as you're able and tell me for sure. If I don't hear from you in two days, I'm calling." Frank said.

"'Kay."

"Bye."

"Bye-bye."

click

"What was that all about?" Merle asked.

"Well, it's a long story. My friends back on Earth are suppose to be watching my brother…keeping him out of trouble. But it seems that they've lost him. And if what you say is true... then he's turned up here on Gaea."

"We need to tell Lord Van," Merle stated.

"Ya," Hitomi agreed.

Well i hope you all liked this.

mainly because i am needing to take a small break from writing. Not that i have run out of material, but that i need to focus on school, and applying to collage. So i should be back in the new year, around Feb. or March. You can check out my profile for updates, and i have started a poll about the gender of the baby. I know i have asked this before, and i actually have an idea of what i want, but i would still like to see what every one thinks (and you can vote twice).

I really appercate all the reviews you send me, they really make my day, and if anyone PM's me i shall respond in like.

So please bear with me, and i will be back soon-ish.

thanks again, and Happy Holidays!

mysisterisasquijum

ps, the cell phone idea is not my original idea. But Ashlaid's from the Fic, Once More With Feeling.

It's very interesting so far.