Little bit longer this one i think lol but not by much. I hope you enjoy

Chapter 4: In the beginning there was...past and future.

Hitomi woke with a sigh, and stared up into the blue sky, a cloud just coming into view. She blinked a couple of times and sat up, subconsciously scratching her back and finding two rips in the back of her top. She suddenly realised why and smiled, standing to face the sunset, spreading her wings on her own for the first time. She felt free. She flew to the shoulder of Escaflowne and rested there looking up into the sunset, being able to see it better from above the trees.

She felt a small breeze and saw balanced on the grave below was Folken with Van's mother beside him. The two flew up to her and Varie brushed Hitomi's hand and kisses her cheek whispering "Thank you my little angel" before she faded and Hitomi turned to Folken who smiled and said "we will always be here Hitomi, never forget"

"Thank you Folken" She smiled, tears in her eyes as he smiled back "We shall see each other again, look after the children of Fanelia" He faded also, disappearing into the sunset, white sparking against the red of the sky.

Van woke, looking up into the sunset. This reminded him of the time Hitomi left, he had stayed lay on the ground all night, watching the mystic moon. He sat up and looked at Ispano Guymelef, his only memory of his family. He saw Hitomi sat upon its shoulder, staring into the red sky, almost mesmerised by what she saw.

"Hitomi" he said softly looking up at her. She looked down at him and smiled. He held his arms in out in a signal for her to come down and she did. She lifted herself up of Escaflowne's shoulder and floated down to him, landing in his arms, holding him tight as he held her. "Lets go home" She nodded and looked at his face "yes, lets."

Flying away, nether noticed the patch of blood that was in front of the Escaflowne

Merle sat in her room, looking at the sunset. She loved sunsets, always had. She was watching and saw something flying...not something...2 people. She climbed onto the roof above her room and stood tall watching as Hitomi and Van came closer. Flying together and smiling. Merle was more than surprised by the flying pair as they landed.

"You ok Merle?" Hitomi asked, stepping forward. Merle looked like she was going to cry. "YOUR JUST TRYING TO REPLACE VARIE AND ME!" She shouted and she ran off back into her room and they heard her door slam violently as she raced out. Hitomi stood stunned, she thought the Merle understood.

"I've done nothing but cause trouble since i got here" Hitomi murmured to herself as she let her shoulders shake and tears to fall. "I wanted to be with you and everyone, i had nothing left on earth but if i cant get on with anyone, then why am i here?" She asked as Van stood watching. He didn't know how to comfort her. "I DONT WANT TO HURT ANYMORE!" She screamed. Even Merle heard it sat by a window and then saw it. The pink light. She was leaving. Merle smiled, knowing she would have a chance again but felt a tear run down her face, surprising herself. She brushed it away, Hitomi had done nothing to help her, only hinder her.

"Hitomi!" Van shouted, clinging to her as she struggled pushing him away as they started to float "Fanelia needs you and Folken was wrong, i am not meant to look after the children of Fanelia!" She said to him as he tried to cling to her. She reached down and pressed her lips to his. "Goodbye Kind Van" she said before she vanished. Merle watched from far away but saw everything. He would never want her after all her fighting for his attentions.

This made Merle realise what a stupid cat girl she was.

Van refused to come out of his room, no matter who spoke to him. Millerna even came back to Fanelia after receiving sent word by Merle.

She had asked to be alone when speaking to Van. He had eventually let her in. She walked in finding his room a mess, himself covered in cuts and bruises.

"You can't go on like this Van" She said as she dressed his wounds. He looked so sad.

"I know but i can go out and face everyone. I let them down, they one who they thought would protect them" He looked at Millerna and the tears rolled down his face "I loved her Millerna" Millerna took him into a motherly hug as she let him cry, she had never seen him this way "It's Merle's fault" he muttered "She insulted her and Hitomi thought she had hurt her deeply.

Merle let the tears fall as she lent against the door listening and she walked off quietly. She would put right her wrong and save the future of Fanelia.

Hitomi landed with a thud in her own backyard. She opened her eyes to see her mother looking at her, a worried look on her face.

"Oh mom!" She shouted, breaking down, hugging her mother, who patted her hair soothingly.

"It has to be here!" Merle muttered as she searched the armour room before coming across a small box, she opened it, praying it was what she was looking for.

The flash of light.

Both Van and Millerna felt it and Van vaulted out the door, running to the armour room to see the light.

"I've done you wrong, I'll bring her back to you! I PROMISE!" Merle shouted as she was tossed into the air with a meow.

What am i to do now...Hitomi looked at the ceiling then at the drag energist on her bedside. It flashed, she wasn't sure if it was her imagination. Only she realised it wasn't when Merle materialised in her room holding a drag energist.

"Merle" Hitomi gasped before hardening her face "Come to keep me away?" She asked

"Oh shut up Hitomi" she said with a sigh before grabbing Hitomi's hand "Van is in a mess. He needs you. He loves you more than you know"

"So, you rejected me"

SLAP

Merle looked pissed, and slapped Hitomi who held her face

"i was wrong! I cant never be what you are! I can never give him what he wants" She said falling to her knees, breaking down, tears falling. Hitomi stood up and took hold of her drag energist before sitting down with Merle.

She took Merle's free hand and held up her drag energist and spreading her wings. "I would never replace you or Van's mother. I respect you both far too much to do that" Merle reached forward, hugging Hitomi and sobbing into her shoulder.

Van didn't feel the light happen. Her had cried himself to sleep, in Millerna's arms, he was that upset. Millerna had left to go to bed herself.

Hitomi landed on his balcony after dropping the now sleeping Merle into her room and tucking her into bed and thanking her.

He looked so peaceful sleeping but she badly wanted to wake her angel to tell him she was staying by his side. She moved his hair from his eye and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked at the window and without realising she was humming the Fanelian lullaby she had heard so many time.

Van's dream was one of confusion...Hitomi was running from him and he was running after her but she was getting further away.

He then heard the lullaby and his dream changed suddenly. He was stood by a giant tree and he could hear Hitomi humming and he saw here stood not far away

"Wake up Van" She whispered to him. He looked surprised and smiled as she faded away and he was left to look over Fanelia.

He lifted his lids to see the moonlight hitting Hitomi's face as she hummed with her eyes closed. Right that moment, She reminded him of his mother a lot which made him smile. He sat up and pulled her gently into his arms. She gasped and stopped. She moved so she was sat next him and her head rested on his shoulder and they held each other again.

"I'm sorry Van, I shouldn't have gone off like I did." Hitomi whispered to him kindly

"It's not your fault. Merle is more to blame for this than you are" Hitomi shook her head

"Don't blame her, she came to get me and made me realised that i couldn't live without you and by the looks of things..." She looked around at the destroyed room "You can't live without me either"

Van blushed and nodded, then felt her hand on his face. She moved so she was knelt next to him, her hands on either side of his face, resting her forehead against his with a smile on her face

"So i won't leave you Van, i promise" She said as she moved her face away to look at his. He smiled and slowly reached up to her face and held her there and just smiled more at her. "and I'll never leave you" He said slowly. Hitomi hilted her head slightly as Van bit his bottom lip. He seemed to be thinking about something, he was slightly worried but his heartbeat was up.

"There is something i want to ask you" He said, moving his hands from her face to hold the ones on his face and to keep them there so she would look at him.

"What is it?" Hitomi asked quietly.

Van was just about to open his mouth when the door flew open and Hitomi was tackled from the other side of the room by a pink hair woman who was squealing.

"I knew it was real! I was scared i had dreamt bringing you back to Gaea but i found the drag energist in my hand and knew it was for real!" Merle rushed as she sat on top of Hitomi's stomach on the floor. This was where they had landed when Merle launched herself at Hitomi who had been sat near the edge of the bed.

Van peered over the edge at the two with a raised eyebrow. Merle shivered and turned to face him as Hitomi was siting up. She hid behind Hitomi who looked bemused by the situation.

"Are you still angry with me?" Merle asked timidly. Van sighed and shook his head

"Of course not sister" Merle face burst into smile and she jumped on the bed and hugged Van

"Thank you brother" She then looked down at Hitomi who was still sat on the floor, seeming to be left out but she was smiling anyway, since things had been cleared up. She moved a lock of hair out of her eyes and saw Merle's brown furry hand reach out to her. She took it and stood. Merle didn't let go and squeezed Hitomi's hand

"Can i call you sister Hitomi?" Slightly taken back by this question but she nodded "Thanks" Merle said smiling before letting go of Hitomi's hand and bidding both a fair well. Leaving in a completely different manner than when she came in.

"So what were you saying?" Hitomi said to Van her eyes still on the closed door, her head running through the events that had just happened before she shook her head slightly and turned to face Van once more.

Van sighed and just looked at her "It doesn't matter any more Hitomi" He said as he walked over to the window from the bed. Leaving a very confused and slightly upset Hitomi sat on the bed, her hands clutching the cover with her fingers.

"It does matter" She stated. Her voice seemed flat. Van turned to her "I know what it was you were going to ask me"

"You...you did?" Van asked, totally shocked and slightly worried. Hitomi stood up and walked over to him and put her arms around his waist, head on his chest. He put his hands around her and held her tightly.

"I...I.." He seemed not able say what he wanted.

"I know Van and my answer is yes" She said looking up at him who looked completely stunned. She reached up with a finger and stroked his forehead and smiled "My powers have been improving over the years, more so then when i came to Gaea. I read your mind Van"

"So you'll stay as my queen? For me and the future of Gaea?" Van asked, seeming not to able to believe what he was hearing from her.

"Yes" He broke into a smiled and buried his head into her shoulder.

-

I didn't have him asked because it didn't seem in his character that he would actually be able to get it out into open air. I hope you like this chapter. I think wedding plans will be next chapter and one of the questions in the summary will be answered heh.