There and Back again

GA1: I apologize for the hiatus of this story it was my fault.

SD: Damn right...

GA1: cries Life is evil, and who ever says your senior year in high school is your easiest year lied!

SD: Defiantly...

GA1: The hiatus is hopefully over for a while now until something else evil comes along. Promise!

Disclaimer: Do we have to repeat ourselves! We do not own Escaflowne or the cast! If we did, we wont be here now would we? We do however own our respective characters:

Spirit Dancer: Aiko, Shiva

Glass Angel1: Ayane, Fira, Merlin, the Providence Children, Caim, and any other character that I must create for the production of this story.

All rights reserved

Summary:

Not just an ordinary retelling of Escaflowne. Two girl's wish away their lives of family abuse, only to find their wish answered. Destiny plays its hands hard as these two friends find themselves caught up in a war of a world they barely know, only to be torn apart along the way. Will they be able to overcome their trouble pasts, and save this new world for its own destruction? Or will their pasts become its means of destruction?

Category: Action/Adventure/Romance

xVxVxVxVx; same place different point of view

xXxXxXxXx ;scene change

italic; vision

XoX ; Flashback

Chpt. 26 Visions of the Reaper

"You're pulling my leg right?" Miguel looked over at Viole, who was stretched out over the top bunk bed. They were currently lounging around in their room. Viole, who was wet from the shower he just had gotten out of, was half a sleep on the bed as he spoke to his partner. Who, unfortunately was doing paper work that Dilandau-sama had let pile up for the past few months. It was ridiculous sometimes to find out just how lazy their leader could be at times. Some would think that a man of his status would know exactly what his signature was being signed too. Ya some would think, all the Dragonslayers by now knew how to forge their lord's signature better then signing their own. At the moment, however, the redheaded slayer was looking at the half awake brunt. Viole rolled over somewhat on the bed to look over at him. He hadn't bothered just yet in getting anymore dressed then just his boxers.

"No... It's exactly what I said... Sheesh no one believes me anymore."

"No it's just, THAT now? I mean they never have one of those when..."

"Yeah... but we've all be invited to attend the bouquet on the Varines." Viole rolled back over to stare up at the ceiling some more. It was still morning; they all had been relived of duty for the time being. Dilandau-sama was busy with reports and planning for the advancement on Fortuna. The idea of having a banquet was a little far out there. Especially now when all the Province children were all in the same spot, chaos was certain to follow. The last banquet the nine of them attended together had turned into a mess. Shesta would probably be happy to hear about it though, how long had it been since he last had a chance to talk with Tara? Not that Miguel was personally looking forward to running into their second-in-command's fiancée. The spontaneous golden haired woman wasn't the type to be undertaken. The children of the nine provinces weren't ones to take much lying down after Zaibach took control of their worlds. Each where forced into some form of work for the government so that Emperor would have some legitimate control over their homelands. Before the murder of the nine leaders at the so called 'meeting of alliance', Shesta was betrothed to the heir of the Zaina Province. Shesta was the third son of his family, thus was no very high thought of in the inheritance line to the throne.

It was really weird how Zaibach chose which family members of the ruling would be the victim of taking responsibility. It was always one too young to really understand what was happening, and unable to do anything to keep from what was happening from happening all a little too late. If that made any sense to you. Gatty was the second cousin of the ruling king in his Province. The two other boys that were taken were even farther apart in the family line. Zahur, a child from the only province that had been a desert land, was barely even related to the Irno's king. Nicole of the Sevon Province only relation to the royal family was that he was the great times seven grandson of the illegitimate son of the king's great times eight grandfather's cousin's son. As anyone could see the whole thing was completely out of it. The other three were girls, daughters of high bureaucrats that held some sort of relations. What, Miguel didn't care in finding out after Nicole's long explanation. It wasn't very far off to say that Zaibach's ways of conducting it self for the 'greater empire' were very idealistic. Zaibach looked like a tyrant set out to deem control over the entire world. Leaving no stone unturned as Dornkirk set out to realize some dream of his as he takes the whole world with him. Well, that was about all any of them heard from Feona, from Humion, the only one in the nine who really spoke her mind out in public even if it got herself into trouble. It was probably one of the reasons why she never grew very far in power like the rest of the nine. Liaden of the Yanie Province was the most settled of the girls, she was also the quietest of the nine. The red headed Furiea of the Niuroa was the youngest of the girl's, but still older then Dilandau who was dated the youngest of them all only by three months to Gatty. Sighing Miguel put his ink pen down and lean back in his chair to stare at the wall in front of him. Yup, this was going to be a great evening then, if Dilandau permitted them all to go. It had been a long time since the nine of them had seen each other.

XxXxXxXxXx

"That is so not what you said yesterday, Guimel..." Refina crossed her arms as she glared at him. Trying hard not to laugh, the mushroom head slayer looked down at the piano keys. Anything to keep from looking at the woman's face, she was clearly not happy with what he just told her. But that was alright, things like this happened a lot now in days, he either didn't have the time to keep these lessons going as long as he promised or she had something to tend to. War really did suck at times, Guimel found himself missing the days when there wasn't much to do except get yelled at for holding his sword wrong in practice and then have an afternoon free. Though, back then he was always wishing that there was some war going on so that there was something TO do. Amazing how things can come back and bite you in the ass. "But I guess I can live with half an hour with you."

"I'm really sorry, Fina..." He liked the last part of her name then the whole thing, most of the Dragonslayers called her by this, except for Dilandau-sama who didn't like to abbreviate names that way. Her arms circled around his waist as she hugged him.

"No frowning!"

"Alright, now where were we?" Sure, Viole liked to call these lessons make out sessions, but really he was just teaching her to play the damn piano. The baka just like to make fun of him just because the woman was a love interest. The only alone time they could get together was this, given that Dilandau was really strict on relationship. He said that he didn't want any pregnancies in the middle of a war, which was a little horrible but understandable. No one wanted to tell someone that their kid was growing up without a father. Fingers ran over the piano as Refina worked on playing some piece of music that he had randomly picked from his portfolio. A lot of the slayers agreed if anything was to happen, Guimel would turn out alright. With the way he wrote music he could pass through life as musician. They would talk most of the time instead of working on what they were supposed to, but that was alright with them. Everyone would like to look at the future as if there would always be a tomorrow. Somewhere a wrong cord was played, and she would laugh at him for writing the note wrong in the music or at herself for playing the wrong thing. This was part of his day that Guimel always looked for to, and would trade anything to keep. Boyish cut brown hair hung slightly over her brown eyes, sure she wasn't very unique looking, and she was rather plain looking. But that was alright, that's what he liked most about her. Maybe after the war was over, and Dilandau relaxed his 'dating rules' he could take her out off the Vione somewhere nice. Then again, that was if there was a good ending to this damn war. Some times there was a wonder what that mighty Emperor Dornkirk was thinking about, and if Chancellor Merlin had any clue what he's doing. And then again, there was always a wonder of who in on Gaea was pulling the strings in the first place. Pushing those thoughts aside, Guimel returned his attention back to the woman next to him. They enjoyed each others company for a little while longer until someone cleared his throat. Both looked up and down to the end of the piano to see their silver haired commander at the end with his head resting on his hands as he looked at them.

"Nice to see you two doing something constructive instead of Viole says that you're doing..."

"Dilandau-sama... What brings you...?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting you two... But given that from what I know about girl's and getting ready for parties, I thought I'd tell you now..." Dilandau started to say.

"What party?" Refina seemed ready to jump off the bench; if there was one thing she enjoyed the most, it was attending a party. Though they never did get to attend much for Dilandau was partly banned from them.

"Would you hold your horses? There's a banquet tonight, and we've been invited. I was hoping you wouldn't mind helping-"

"Are you kidding? You'd never have to ask such a thing! I'll go find her now!" Refina was off the bench and heading to the door before either of them could say another word. "This is so great! With another woman on this Vione, I actually have someone to get ready with!" After the door closed both men looked at each other then back at the door, Dilandau shook his head.

"Doesn't take much to make her happy... I guess any excuse to dress in something other then a uniform makes any woman happy..." Guimel laughed as his commander shrugged.

"So...umm... how many are going to be there?" There was no need to be specific about what he was talking about, Dilandau would know.

"All of us... I think someone is asking for something bad to happen. So I guess I have to be on my best behavior huh?" He tapped the tips his fingers on the black piano.

xXxXxXx

"I so can't believe it! Do you have any idea how long it's been since any of us have gone to a formal banquet?" The short haired brunette looked at Ayane as she sat on her bed. It was amazing how people just invite themselves into her room without consideration. She had been planning on taking a nap; with Dilandau-sama telling her for another day that she didn't need to do anything, Ayane was finding her days to be very boring aboard the Vione. The work had given her something to do so that she wouldn't notice how empty this place really was. In the morning she had seen all of the Dragonslayers off as they began to depart before the battle on the country of Freid. Miguel had been the only on to stay behind, for Dilandau-sama did not want him out in the battle. It was either for punishment or just because the silver haired man didn't want anything else to happen to his friend. The redhead slayer had been good company until he was called to the bridge. Since then she had been alone for the rest of the day. She had amused herself for sometime with putting curlers in her hair, that chore always took a while for her to do. And now it seems it was a good thing that she did do it. The small female slayer had informed her (after barging in, it still was amazing to see how many people really did know the lock combination on her door) that there was a 'banquet' being held in the honor of Zaibach's latest victory. "O! And to make it even better, you're here so now I have someone to get ready with! It's so much funner if someone else is here!"

"I'm glad..." Ayane sighed as she watched the girl rummage through her closet, as if it turned out there were dresses in there other then her uniform. She just never felt like looking through the clothes that Dilandau-sama had made for her. She should probably do that sometime.

"Now, what are you going to wear...? Umm..." There wasn't much for Ayane to do but sit where she was and watch. She felt too tired really to do anything; her leg was throbbing in pain since she had walked around too much. The idea of going to something that would involve dancing and standing wasn't very high on her list of things to enjoy doing at the moment, but there was nothing to say against it; she was just going to have to tuff it out. This wouldn't be the first time she had to hide the pain. "Go figure... Nothing but black... Lots and lots of... O, never mind we have a winner!" Refina yanked out a dark blue dress from within the closet to show her. "You have to forgive the lack of color in this place, but black and blue are the Dragonslayer colors."

"It's alright..." Ayane slipped off the bed and walked over to the table were her makeup bag was certainly sitting. Refina happily went about laying the dress out on the bed, going on about something. Shifting through her things; and laying out what she was looking for, her fingers brushed over something sharp. Pulling out the small set of scissors that she used to trim her hair with, Ayane looked over her shoulder at the short hair brunette. There wasn't much the girl could do with hair like that, to short to curl, and this world didn't seem to have really strong gel, or even any moose. But for what Ayane was thinking of during, the girl's hair was too long in the back. "Refina, do you mind if I cut your hair a bit?"

"My hair?" The girl stopped what she was doing and touched her short hair. It wasn't extremely short, it was long enough to touch her chin in the front and some of her hair touched the base of her neck. "Well... It has gotten a lot longer then it's supposed to be. I guess that would be alright as long as you know what you're doing?"

"Of course..." Ayane waved the girl down to a chair. The short haired brunette sat straight up in the chair. Moving her fingers carefully through her hair, Ayane went about cutting and framing the hair like she wanted it. There was an odd feeling she had while doing this; it reminded her of the time she had cut Aiko's hair. The girl had been so angry when her father had tried to cut her hair with a kitchen knife. How that happen, Ayane didn't want to ask, but it didn't matter it was a mess and had to be fixed. So, in the middle of the night in her bathroom back at her apartment, Ayane had fixed her hair reasonably. As it turned out, Aiko liked the style so much she had kept it for a while as it grew out. Now it's a longer version of when Ayane first cut it. Now as she trimmed down the hair in the back of Refina's head and shaped what was in front, Ayane found herself wandering how that girl was. It was the first time in a while actually, off and on she had worried and little, but during the battle in Freid's capital Ayane had been more worried about finding all of her hair curlers then her friend. The dragon or Van really, was said to be there, that meant so had Aiko. How horrible, had she become so uncaring about her friend? But really, wasn't that her decision when she came back here? It was time for Aiko to plant her feet on her own without Ayane there to do it for her. Here and now was the place for the girl to really find her own way without any other influences. That in turn meant that she had to be absent from her friend. In the end, she had hoped Aiko would thank her if everything turned out well, but war was something unpredictable and should always remain like that.

"Hey...um... Ayane?" Most of the 'younger' slayers did not call her Lady Ayane like the higher ranked slayers. This she appreciated more, she was far from being truly a lady as tainted as she was.

"Yes..."

"They say that you're from...well not around here... Do you miss your home?" Brown hair fell from between her fingers as Ayane moved the scissors along the girl's hair.

"In some ways, I miss the comfort of my home... but if you are asking me if I miss my family? No... In some ways I am probably happier here then I would ever have if I had stayed there..." Refina tilted her hair slightly.

"Stayed there? You mean you came here by choice?" Scissors continued to move, the sign of concentration when the cuts become slower. By choice... That was an interesting way of putting it, but hadn't that been it? Her will to exist, to be had fainted in a desire to disappear. That was what they, not what she, wished for that night by the water fountain. The night her answer had finally came and she had ended up here. In truth, it was her fault that Aiko was here. But could she call this a fault? They were tangled in this war, a war that seemed so unclear. What exactly was Zaibach fighting for? Why were two brothers on opposite sides?

"Something like that... There all done..."

xXxXxXxXx

"Why again..." A light brown haired woman sighed as she leaned down against the back of a dark skinned with black hair young man's chair. Her baby blue dress hung down off her shoulders, her straight hair fell down over them. "Are we here?"

"Because, Feona... We were invited..." The young man sighed as he tilted the small wine glass in his hands. Sandy brown eyes studied the others that stood around or sat in chairs. He was the eldest here; his dark skin stood out against the others and marked him as a child of a desert land. Eldest as he was, he was however not the ring leader of this band. "Do you think he'll show up?"

"Since when does Dilandau pass up the chance to create a little trouble, Zahur?" Nicole, a dark brown haired youth that sat across from him, said. They were all in a corner. Furiea, a red haired woman who stood behind Nicole in her dark green dress, had been the first to arrive at this damn affair and had chosen this corner for the group to meet at as they came into this crowded banquet hall one by one. Liaden's dark green hair fell over her shoulder in long wavy curls as she sat back in her chair. The golden haired Tara sat across her lap watching the doors. At the moment, the women out numbered the men, but if the other three showed up the numbers would be at what they should. Zahur nodded his head to agree, the silver haired demon boy never passed up the chance to see them all, especially at a party were chaos could easily be created. Times like this weren't spent dancing and acting like idiots like most of the soldiers that were here on the Varines. No once the three other men arrived, the time of celebrating for them would be spent talking and calibrating on things that had happen since the last they got to talk to each other. Though some of them see each other off and on, a lot of the time they are never together in a large group like this.

"Knowing them, they will be late..." Liaden sighed as Tara rested her head on her shoulder. "Those boys always like to make something about their coming. Who know, maybe they're planning on putting something in the wine again like they did last time..."

"They are still kids..." Feona laughed.

"Will you get off my chair?" Zahur glared at her.

"Yeah, sure..." The light brown haired girl sighed, but she did not moved before she grabbed his glass out of his hand. "But I'll be taking this!"

"Feona! Give th-"

"They're here..." Tara's voice cut him off, as he turned his head sharply to see the dark blue and black uniforms of the Dragonslayers. Men had to wear their uniforms; woman just had to wear a dress in the colors of their squad. In the mist of black and blue there was a uniform with red on it. The silver haired demon boy always stood out against his men however the creature that hung on his arm stood out even more. "Who's that girl...?"

xVxVxVxVx

Ayane held on tight to Dilandau-sama's arm as if when she let go she might loose him to the crowded room forever. Who knew there were so many people that could be fit in a room like this, or that a room this size could exist on a floating rock fortress. As Refina had explained Varines was not as large as the Vione but it had less rooms as the Vione which meant the rooms it had were much larger then what they should be. Her curled hair brushed over her bare shoulders, the dress Refina had picked out was a sheer dark blue fabric that lay over a silky black fabric. It shimmered depending on the light, but it hung very tightly to her thin frame. The group had been shocked when Refina took her down to the hanger to meet the group. The walk down there had worn her out, her leg felt ready to collapse out from under her. No one seemed to notice as the boys went about inspecting Refina's new hair cut. After digging around, Ayane had found some moose and spiked the shorter back hair. With some fighting, she had managed to get the girl's bangs to go off to one side. It gave the girl an attitude look, which she seemed to enjoy. Dilandau-sama had though it was cute; though Ayane had a feeling that he had barely looked at it. He seemed to have been looking more at her then anything else. Guimel was Refina's escort after some fighting between the slayers. No one disputed about her, Dilandau's claim was clear when he offered her his arm. He looked so spiffy in the dress uniform he wore, it was different from the one he normally had. Actually all their uniforms were different. It was more of a cloth fabric then leather. It also had more red in it then the other, given the lack of hard leather, it felt better to hold on to.

"Alright, keep out of trouble got me?" There was a chain of nods from all the slayers except for Shesta and Gatty as they seemed to be looking for something. "Dismissed..." The group broke off going in different directions, well all except for Shesta and Gatty again who were still looking for something. Ayane watched Miguel wobble off with Viole, leaning on his cane. He seemed some how content even though Viole was obviously going to be annoying him. Even though there was still some guilt ping in her chest for not healing his leg all the way, it seemed to her that he had no complaints about it.

"They're over there..." Shesta said suddenly pulling her attention back to the group that she was obviously herself going to be stuck with. Looking in the direction that he was pointing to Ayane could see a some what large group hanging around in a corner of the room, near the open doors that lead out on to the open balconies. Four women in different color dresses surrounded two content men. A long golden haired woman in a dark amber dress which surrounded her lean figure as she stood up off the lap of a wavy dark green haired woman who wore a long velvet dress that seemed more moderate then the dresses belonging to the other three. This golden hair maiden seemed to be beckoning them over to join them. A light brown haired woman in a satin dress seemed to be either amusing or annoying a dark skinned male as he stood up out of his chair to retake his glass. His glossy black clothes seemed to make him almost disappear in against the wall behind him. If it hadn't been for the wooden chair Ayane was afraid she might not have noticed him. A red haired woman in a green dress was laughing at them as she kept her arms around a dark brown haired man wearing a dark purple and black uniform.

"Don't wonder to far from me tonight, alright?" Dilandau whispered in her arm as he turned them in the direction of the group. Ayane nodded her head slowly as she walked with him in the direction of the group. Shesta was up ahead of them, the golden haired maiden moved from where she was to meet them or more likely him, her amber dress floated around her. She looked like a porcelain figurine, her perfect posture as she walked the look of royalty. The moment they two of them were close enough together she threw her arms around Shesta's shoulders.

"Nice to see you again, Tara..." Shesta said smoothly as he returned the hug, her lips passed lightly over his cheek. Ayane found it hard to take her eyes off this woman. Was this what others thought of her when she acted like that? It seemed more natural to her though that this action fitted this woman better then herself. Though, as she pulled her steel gray eyes away from her to look at the rest of the group with Dilandau, it seemed without even paying attention, those around her still saw that she so wanted to fade away into nothing. Her beauty in eyes of many could probably be compared to that of the golden maiden.

"Sorry we're late..."

"Yeah right Dilandau-kuns you did it on purpose like you always do!" The light brown haired girl said as she handed the dark skinned man's drink back to him. The wavy dark green haired woman stood to hug Gatty as he walked over to her. The woman in the dark green dress walked up to him and hugged him next.

­ "That's not fair, Feona. You're always too early for anyone to beat you anywhere..." The woman just stuck her tongue out at him.

"Liar... Good... but still a liar..."

"Are you going to introduces us to your lady friend, Dilandau or are we going to have to guess?" The dark skin man had said.

"O..." Dilandau scratched the back of his head innocently, the golden tiara held up his long bangs some what out of his blood red eyes. "This lovely young woman is Lady Ayane Umizo... Ayane these morons are-"

"Zahur Istra of the desert sands in Irno."

"Feona Luvpora of the risky waters in Humion."

"Nicole Klornea of the rich soils in Sevon."

"Liaden Lorno of the rocky cliffs in Yanie."

"Furiea Caim of the open lands in Niuroa."

"Tara de Zain of the cinder wood in Zaina."

"You guys sound like damn poets..." Gatty rolled his eyes he let go of Furiea. "We aren't going to have to do that are we?"

"Well why not? Does she know what province you morons are from?" Feona crossed her arms. "We can 'reacquaint' ourselves..."

"Amuse her Gatty before she cuts your head off..." Shesta laughed. Gatty just shrugged.

"Gatty de Ethelgar of the desert grasses in Envial."

"Shesta de Eleding of the white marble in Muriona."

"Dilandau de Albatou from the land that's the best of them all, Sarran!" Dilandau puffed out his chest to add to the effect. There was a long silence among them before they all started out in a laughing fit.

"Dilandau-kuns you only say that because Sarran is right in the middle of everything!" Feona giggled loudly then suddenly snorted, this sent every one of them into a longer fit of laughter. In her short shock from the actions of them all, Ayane found herself giggling. It was odd to hear him say something like that. He always seemed so serious and yet he seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Well, my Lady, would you care to sit," Zahur suddenly said, waving her to the chair he had been occupying, "You may be standing for a while." Dilandau let her go as the dark skin youth took her hand a set her down in the small wooden chair. The conversation began to fly when she was seated. It sounded like old friends that hadn't seen each other in a long, long time. Which was true, as Refina was kind enough to inform her if she met them all. Zaibach had been really strict on them all; in more then ways just to keep them all in line. This met keeping them far away from each other so that there could be no 'planning' of anything. So it was either letters that were pre-read by some one else and 'edited' or they all had to wait for rare chances like this. It was obvious what the group had chosen. It was odd to sit here and listen to them all; instead of being the one included she was the excluded one. This may sound odd seeing as not many people find enjoyment of being the odd one out, but Ayane was finding the situation far more enjoyable then if they had included her. Parties like this was not something she was unfamiliar with, working for her father's company meant she attended a lot of affairs like this and hated every single one of them, especially if HE was there. Though she did not want to think about that, she hadn't had to think about any of them since the night her wish to the forgotten whispers had been answered. Here she was free, free to sit back and be the odd man out. Free to laugh without worry. Free, so free and yet...

Still chained.

How long would this blessing last? Would this bliss in her nightmare come to a startling end? There was a war here, a war that she was finding herself in the middle of. She and her only friend, a young woman who was barely able to stand on her own two feet. Aiko was strong; she had the strength to kick anyone's ass and the brains to do it. But physical strength did not make up for the mental weakness. Until she could rebuild her bridge to society, anything could tip her off the short edge. Maybe in some sense, Ayane failed her. If she had tried, pushed, done something because she knew what was happening behind the closed doors of her friend's home. And yet she didn't for her own selfish needs. Aiko could have walked away; she could have chosen to free herself. Ayane couldn't. She had been trapped, tied down because of who she was, who she was born to. Life had its twists, just to make everyone not so boring. Maybe it was Aiko's twist that made her forget her own. Maybe that was why that day in that bathroom she gave that girl her hanky; why she chose to sit with her during the lunch period; why they became friends. Because of her selfish need to forget get her own horrible life. Alright, so being the odd man out was not the best thing for Ayane. It let her think too much, defiantly too much. Some where an orchestra started to warm up their instruments and the talking of the carefree group stopped.

"O! We have to dance! There are enough of us this time!" Feona jumped as she grabbed Zahur's arm.

"And be reminded that you have two left feet? I think I'll pass..."

"Zahur!"

"I think a dance would be a good idea..." Tara said as she brushed some of her hair off her shoulder. "We can do the Hunmo Waltz..."

"I despise that thing..." Nicole frowned. "It means I have to dance with Feona..."

"Hey! I do not have two left feet!"

"The Hunmo Waltz?" Ayane said it was probably the first real thing she had said all night. It was clear she was going to be part taking in it, seeming that she evened out the numbers.

"The Hunmo Waltz, my Lady," Zahur started to say before anyone else could, "is a sort of party going dance that comes from Zaina. The idea is that during the dance, you switch partners until the song ends. It doesn't really matter what the song it is really. But anyways, the idea is whoever you end up with you have to stay with them until the next round of the Hunmo Waltz is started. It's a way to meet as many people at one party and actually get a chance to talk to them."

"Please! Please! Come on guys!" Feona started to jump up and down. There were sighs from the men before there was a chorus of 'yes'. "Yay!"

"Who's partnering with whom?" Dilandau sighed.

"Well...Shesta and Tara... Gatty and Furiea...Nicole and Liaden..." Zahur looked at Dilandau for a moment. "And I'll start off with Feona, I'll suffer first."

"Cheater..." Dilandau rolled his eyes as he held out his hand to Ayane. "May I have this first dance, Lady?" Taking his hand, she was pulled to her somewhat stable legs and lead out onto the open dance floor where other groups being to gather. The orchestra continued to tune for a few more minutes as the group stood about waiting. Dilandau held her securely in his arms as they waited. It felt nice to be held like this, dancing back home wasn't so formal. Here she was held a curtain distance away from him, at home this gap no longer existed. The music started, with a few seconds Ayane found her self moving along the floor. They twirled around together for some time; this was a lot different from waltz's back from which normally didn't travel so much around. He dropped one of his hands off of her arm, and with the other moved to spin her. However, during the spin he let go of her hand and the next thing Ayane knew Shesta had taken his place. New partner and it seemed also a new type of waltz. This one reminded her of a box step waltz except a little more elaborate. She received a few more twirls before being sent off to her next new partner, which turned out to be the dark brown haired Nicole. It was then that it hit her as she started to do a totally different type of waltz why every time she changed partners the steps changed. They were all showing off their home's dancing traditions. Nicole spun her off to the dark skinned Zahur. His waltz automatically reminded her of the tango as they went around the floor. Though there were a few steps before she suddenly found herself in an ongoing spin. He spun her around the floor fast, Ayane was finding herself enjoying the thrill of the room blurring out as they went. However this wouldn't last long as her good leg caught the heel of her bad leg. It gave out before Ayane could do anything. Zahur caught her in what looked like a dip to anyone else watching. It would have been fine, they could have continued had it just looked like a normal mistake, but she could not mask the pain she felt as it shot up her bad leg.

"Are you alright?" Zahur asked her seriously as he pulled her back up out of their deep 'dip'. She tried to put her leg back down straight but the pain the came out of it wasn't very pleasant.

"I don't think I'm going to be able to continue..."

"It's alright, we'll drop out." She felt so horrible about not being able to continue and that he had to step out with her. If she had been able to bit down the pain she would of, passed it off as she was alright. But the dark skin man of the desert seemed to very certain that they were both done for the time. He led her back to the chairs, though sitting at the moment was something she did not want to do. She needed to work her bad leg out so that she could walk on it.

"I think... I'd like to get some fresh air if that's alright Zahur-sama..." The man looked at her questionably for a moment before turning their direction to out on the open balconies. They were welcomed by the steady breeze of cold air. It ruffled her curls off of her shoulders, to bare her uncovered shoulders to the breeze. Grabbing on the railing she held herself up right to make it look like she was standing up fine. Out in the darkness they could see the other fortresses in the air as they moved steadily to Fortuna. The place most of these soldiers felt that this war would come to its undisputed end. For it was something there that Zaibach desired to have to bring this planet closer to a world without war. A war to end all wars, if that wasn't the stupidest thing she had ever heard. If it meant to destroy the homes of children like this Empire had done to Dilandau and his friends, then there would only be hatred brewing in the so called 'peace'.

"Are you feeling better, Lady?" Zahur asked as he stood next to her.

"Much better thank you..." She turned and smiled at him. "Sorry about ruining the dance for you, Zahur-sama."

"It's alright, Lady..." Ayane looked at him carefully, and frowned.

"Why do you keep calling me Lady?"

"Why do you call me sama when I wasn't introduced in such a way?" He threw back at her with a smile. This made her frowned deepen. "I call you Lady because that was how Dilandau introduced you to us as. We don't use titles or ranks among us even when other people are brought into our group. When he called you Lady that is a signal there is something about you we should all look carefully at. Miss Ayane Umizo of the Mystic Moon..."

"How-"

"There's nothing to look so worried about. Dilandau told me about you in one of his long annoying letters. You never believe hold long it takes to decode them..." He shook his head. "Don't worry; the secret is safe with me." The music behind them picked up in pace. She looked behind her way from the man next to her to look at the group of dancers. It was a pity she couldn't have continued, it had been fun moving around in different styles of dancing. Though it looked like she was stuck with Zahur until the next round which was alright with her. "Would you care for something to drink? I just realized no one has offered you anything..."

"Yes, I think I could go for something..." Ayane looked back at him as he let go of the rail he was holding onto.

"Will you be alright out here on your own?"

"Yup. I won't go anywhere until you get back. Promise..." he nodded to her as he walked away back into the banquet hall behind them. Ayane turned and looked back out into the night sky. The stars would come out now and then from behind the clouds in the sky. The somewhat full moon hung underneath the earth. It was strange how they would call her home the cursed moon; it did seem to fit the phantom moon so well. Something started to glow a pale blue around her neck, and she looked about at her glowing pendent. It was odd; the thing had done this twice before. Back that night in Fanelia when she had that 'dream' and in Folken's study when she saw Miguel's 'death'. Pulling her eyes away from the pendent out again to the fortress in the darkness, only to find herself wishing she hadn't. There, floating out in the cold night air was a thing of nightmares. Its white rotting bones half hidden by a tattered black cloak. The large scythe loomed about its body; human skulls decorated the top of the long short blade.

"The reaper..." The name passed by her lips as she continued to stare at the messenger of death as its bone fingers grabbed hold of the staff belonging to the large scythe. Its red eyes stared at her as it moved its jaw as if to say something, but with out a tongue it could not. Raising the scythe about its head, it swung in down toward her. Jolted out of her trance, Ayane moved to the side just before the scythe came down where she had been standing against the railing. It broke front the rail without much effort. In her quick move to get out of the way, Ayane had knocked her balance off. Given that the railing only came up to around her waist, she found herself falling over the railing down to the passing flat lands below. A scream barely passed through her lips as she fell off the balcony, the messenger of death only loomed above here were the balcony was. Looking away from it to her death that lay below, she was surrounded in darkness.

Why did death burn? Her skin felt liked it was on fire, the weight of her body seemed so unnatural. Something cold brushed against her bare skin making her opened her eyes. How could she feel things in death? Had she survived the fall? Ayane stared out on to a rocky field, nothing green grew here, only death came here. She could see them, all looming tall above her. The metal creatures that they called melefs. This wasn't death, she was having another vision. The Dragonslayers' melefs stood in a circle formation around the white dragon. The dragon did not seem confused or lost as it had sometime in the past, no it seemed to be something else. Something touched her arm; it was as cold as ice. Looking down she saw the bone hands of the reaper holding her forearm. Frightened, Ayane looked up over her shoulder to see the tattered fabric of the reapers cloak behind her. Its red eyes of death burned down into her grey ones before they looked away from her out onto the field of coming death. She looked away from it again to the Escaflowne, the reaper pointed it's free hand out at one of the green melefs. The Escaflowne moved then towards it, ramming it through with its white sword.

"No..." Ayane whimpered as she realized what she was witnessing once again. Death, the reaper had come again like it had in Folken's study when she saw Miguel's. It was showing her not what was taking place now, but would be. The Escaflowne in its demon rage continued to smash through the green units. One of the dark blue ones moved suddenly as if woken out of a trance to protect the last green melef. She heard the cry from the dying pilot from within as the white dragon destroyed the blue melef. Guimel, Guimel would die trying to save Refina. Her melef exploded a few seconds before the Escaflowne could touch it again. The trance that lay on the other melefs disappeared as the Dragonslayers began to move again. They acted in fury against the white demon but each one seemed to fail somehow. She heard their last out cries before the scythe of death came down upon them. The unheard voice of the reaper filled her mind after each voice.

"Refina!" Guimel: the desperate musician.

"You bastard!" Dallet: a child of unease time.

"AAA!" Viole: the clown of unforgiving acts.

"Damn it..." Miguel: the cheater of death.

"Gatty get him out of here!" Gatty: the wronged.

"Heaven forgive us..." Shesta: the unforgiven child.

Ayane's body went limp as she watched the deaths of each of them. The reaper was the only thing that was keeping her from falling to knees. The place burned with blue fire from the melefs as they leaked the deathly silver liquid. The white demon dragon stopped now and turned towards the red melef that seemed too frozen to the stop as he watch his men die. Dilandau, he was still alive, he was still there. Fear had frozen him, kept him from trying to save his men. No, run Dilandau run! Ayane's mind screamed as the Escaflowne started to move towards it.

"No!" Ayane turned away from the battle field to the reaper that was behind her. She grabbed onto the tatter cloth of its cloak. "Stop this please! I beg you to stop this!" The reaper seemed unmoved as it pointed again out to the battle field. Pulling her eyes away from him to the two giant out on the burning rocks, she watched in horror was they danced their dance of death. The dance among the ruins of the other melefs did not last long as the Escaflowne turned its sword quickly in a reverse direction then what Dilandau was set for and rammed its long white sword through the red melef.

"...I'm sorry..." Dilandau: Heaven's fallen angel.

"NO!" Ayane screamed as she fell to her knees finally. The reaper's hand let loose of her right forearm only to regain its grip on her wrist. Tears poured down her eyes as she watched the red melef fall to the ground. Fire blazed out from it. The white dragon stepped away from it as if in horror of its own acts or maybe it heard her voice. Which ever, it didn't matter, for the white color of the dragon disappeared in a quick flash as darkness pulsed out from the dragon heart in the energist chamber. Escaflowne fell backwards onto the ground that blazed in blue fire. Death, this was a field of absolute death. Everything was dead here. This could not happen; she could not let this come to be. If this was the future then she would have to take the reaper's proposal once again. The price for this may be higher then the one she paid for Miguel, but that did not matter her life for theirs was enough for her. She would not let this come to be! Tears rolled down her face onto the rocky ground below her. Pain shot through her right arm; cause her to cry out in pain. The boney hand of the reaper dug into her flesh cause it to burn all the way through to her shoulder. Turning away from the burning battle field to the reaper's figure, Ayane looked up at her arm that it held above her. Something was burning its way into her skin leaving a scar along the shapes of her bones and blood vessels. Red eyes burned into hers again, its jaw moved to speak again but with out lips she could not read, with out a tongue she could not hear it. Letting go of her arm, Ayane stared into the scars that now lay on it, scars that formed something she had seen before but in metal.

Folken's arm. The scars made her arm looked like his metal arm. But why?

The ground seemed to shatter beneath her and she began to fall. The darkness came again, the blue dress she worn fluttered above her as she fell. The pain in her right arm still pulsed through it, and she could not move it. Her left arm however moved on its own as it moved upwards as if to catch the hand of someone above her that was going to save her. Save her from the vision of the reaper. There was a flash of light above her that did not disappear but grew as it came closer. She could see the figure of a woman with long hair coming towards her; white wings of an angel grew from her back. Loose feathers brushed her face as that person's hand grabbed onto her, saving her from the fall into the darkness. Cool jade eyes burned into her frighten steel gray ones.

Aiko.

The darkness was gone, cold air brushed onto her bare skin. She was on the ground holding on the bars of the railing as she looked out onto the phantom moon. Behind her the orchestra still played, the sounds of people laughing and talking was still going on as if nothing had happened. She was still on the Varines; she had not fallen off like she thought she had. Tears poured down her face though, fear still had her heart. Nothing might have changed but the vision from the reaper still remained.

The whispers of the forgotten still burned in her ear as the images turned in her mind.

She could not let that future come to be. There was no way she was going to let that battle field of death be born. Someone said something from behind her, but Ayane refused to move as her eyes continued to stare were the reaper had been during her vision. That something grabbed her arms roughly and pulled her away from the railing. She stared up into the red eyes of death, but this death had a face not a skull. Silver hair fell over a golden tiara; worried eyes looked into her eyes. No this wasn't death it was Dilandau. He was still alive, that future had yet to come. Grabbing onto his uniform, Ayane buried her face into the cotton fabric as the tears started a new. She would not let that happen.

Even if it meant she would become the bride of the Reaper herself.

GA1: Bwahahahahahaha! Lots of foreshadowing!

SD: I'm confused...

GA1: evil I am as evil as I can!

SD: still confused

Edit: 03/11/07