Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, or any of the characters. Just the ones created from my own warp mind...
(Weeeeee! Tina's back! I can finally continue my fan fic! Thank you to all that read chapter 3! I know it took a while to update, but I wanted time to finish a chapter I'm currently writing in this story that has been sitting on my computer for a while.
I'll remind those that don't remember that a lot of this was written a while ago, and the later chaptersthe ones I will edit I'm working on now, while I update the old ones.
Anyway, I have only one real Question: Did you all like Donte? He's cute, huh? I like the character, so you'll see a lot of him soon. The girl with purple hair won't show up for a while, so breathe a sigh of relief. Enjoy this next chapter, and remember; this is my first attempt a fanfiction, so unfortunately there will be some problems. HELP ME!)
Hitomi felt her feet touch earth once more. It took a moment to regain her sense of balance, and when she turned around she saw Van standing next to her and Yukari on the ground to her left, shaking.
"Yukari? Are you alright?" she asked, walking over to her friend.
Yukari looked up, and Hitomi could see she was slightly afraid, obviously not used to traveling in a beam of light.
"I'm fine." she replied, rising to her feet.
Yukari looked around and amazement and awe where all she could feel when she took in the world around her.
They were in an immensely deep forest, and the scent of pine filled the air. It was beyond dark beside her, but above, the night sky like she had never seen; so bright and clear, every speck of light falling down apon her. The moon wasn't visible, but she knew she would only have to wait a little longer to see it.
She heard Hitomi's voice beside her, and followed her down the dark path leading out of the forest.
"Yukari," Hitomi said quietly, "this is the forest just outside of Fanelia, Van's home. We have only a little ways to walk to see it."
They walked in silence, Van in front, leading the way, followed closely by Hitomi, holding tightly to Yukari to guide her.
They reached the edge of the forest after half an hour, the full light of the Earth and moon visible in the beautiful night sky.
Yukari had never seen the world above her through this sudden change in perspective before, and it filled her once again with amazement, and as she came to the realization of her predicament, horror.
I'm gone…I'm not on Earth…
She looked away from the unimaginable brightness of the night sky and looked forward.
Ahead of them lay the lights of a large town, its warmth calling to them with open arms.
"Fanelia," Van told them, raising his hand to it.
XX
"Where is he? I thought he said he be back soon."
Merle was getting impatient and wanted to see her friend again.
She blew off work and even Donte to see Hitomi again, but it was taking way to long. She was never very good at waiting, and hated to do it.
She was standing just outside the entrance to Fanelia, looking towards dragon forest, growing increasingly frustrated, when she spotted Van walking out of the forest.
"What took you?" she called, running over to him.
"I've been waiting forever! You know I haven't even been to work, yet! You made me late!" She smiled brightly at him when she reached him, and made a move to hug him when Hitomi came into view, and she couldn't contain her glee.
She shoved past Van and took Hitomi into a very large hug, saying repeatedly, "Hitomi! I missed you so much!"
"Uh-Merle!" Hitomi could barely breathe due to Merle's tight grip, but she hugged her back. "It's great to see you!"
"You won't believe how things have changed around here! I can't wait to show you everything!"
Merle was quite distracted by Hitomi, so it took another minute to realize someone else was with them.
The girl was standing a little behind Hitomi with a look of utter shock on her face She looked to be as old as Hitomi and wore the same strange attire, but was a little taller and had long reddish brown hair.
Merle took in the image of the girl and tilted her head, puzzled.
"Who's this?" she asked in a childish way, turning her head in the direction of Van, not releasing Hitomi from her arms.
"Miss Yukari Uchida." he answered shortly, adding, "A friend of Hitomi's."
Merle pulled back to look into Hitomi's face and promptly said, "She's weird!"
Hitomi laughed and shook her head, but Yukari replied angrily, "Look whose talking!"
She stepped forward to stand beside Hitomi, glaring menacingly at Merle.
Merle let go of Hitomi, stood in front of Yukari and couldn't help but laugh. "She's like you Hitomi!"
She waved her hand and smiled sweetly at Hitomi's friend, saying warmly, "Welcome to Fanelia! I'm Merle!"
She ran forward and hugged the startled girl, putting her head onto her shoulder to whisper in her ear, "Stay away from Van. Don't mess with them, or answer to me."
She pulled back and smiled warmly.
Yukari expression was unbelievably funny. She looked shocked beyond thought.
I'm surprised she hasn't fainted.
"I'll lead the way!" she yelled, and She darted away, calling after them to keep up as she ran toward the city.
It was fun to tease her.
They caught up with her shortly(the Yukari girl the first) and walked into the gates of the city.
XX
There weren't many people on the streets tonight, and those that were passed quietly, not looking up from their business, so the party didn't have to answer strange and annoying questions as the made their way through the city.
When they reached the palace, Hitomi took in it's majestic beauty with pride and joy.
To see the castle rebuilt after only two years was an accomplishment of itself, but to rival the splendor of Palas, that was amazing.
What she had remembered of the castle before was that of an almost earthy, wooden façade, but now it was replaced with a mixture old and new.
It still retained the feel of natural beauty, as if it grew from the ground up, but also had man made elements from Fanelian folklore; something to remind Fanelia's people it was made with their hands.
It was large and covered in a brilliant limestone and sandstone mix of rock. Above her, were the sculptures of Fanelian Mythology, the first great King of Fanelia standing tall like a protector of his people beside great cedar doors, with hundreds of great dragons lining the turrets of the castle high above, their wings spread wide and their mouths snarling. Hitomi could only think they were for guarding the royal family from evil spirits.
"It is the dragons killed in the right of dragon slaying," Van explained to Hitomi and Yukari when they viewed them, "to honor the sacrifice of their lives for our country."
After a moment of looking at the magnificent sculptures, Hitomi stole a glance at Yukari.
Her face was easy to read. Hitomi could see she was impressed, not only by the grand castle, but also Van. The slight blush on her face told as much.
She laughed to herself as she watched her, but was distracted when Yukari suddenly asked, "What are those?" pointing to something directly above them.
Hitomi suddenly got shivers down her back when she saw what was on a raised platform above the front doors in front of them.
Something that resembled two dragons, not land dragons, like the ones lining either side, but slender, and almost weightless. They had to be the same kind of dragon that Escaflowne resembled.
They intertwined and lay in a crouching position. the dragons' eyes flashed in the light of the nigh sky, and she could see they were made of a brilliant red stone. Their mouths were open and spouting menacing, as if they were about to breathe fire on those below.
"What do they mean?" she heard Yukari ask tentatively.
"They are the guardians of our world, the protectors of all that are good and just. They help those that are weak, and aid those that are strong to do what is right." Hitomi heard herself say, almost as if she were reading it in her mind.
She didn't understand how she could know this, or why she said it, but it didn't frighten her; in fact it almost comforted her to know she knew what they symbolized. Van nodded and continued the explanation.
" In this country our God cannot be controlled by anyone but the King. Because I am not the first in my family, but second borne, I should have never been able to pilot it. That means I am not the only ruler of this country. They are the dragon brothers, my brother and I. They rule this land."
Silence greeted this statement, but was broken when Yukari had to ask, "Who is your brother? Why isn't he here to greet you?"
Hitomi knew she expected her hear something like, "he is inside working," or something of that nature when she said this thoughtless statement, but Hitomi shook her head and looked down.
Van didn't answer.
Confused, she asked again uncomfortable by their silence. Merle answered slowly, obviously trying to find the right way to explain Van's brother's absence.
"He isn't on this world any more, but in a place where he is free and happy. He is with this father and mother, and all those that have left this world behind. We all hope to see him again when we pass."
Yukari' face lit up with understanding at what Van had been trying to explain through the dragons. Something she already knew.
They're a memorial to Van's dead brother...
"Oh…" Yukari replied softly, quieting down again. "I'm sorry." she whispered.
Hitomi grabbed her arm and squeezed gently, her way of saying it was all right.
They followed Van quietly through the doors and out of the cool night breeze, silent once more.
Inside was a magnificent hall, The light of many candles above and around them, revealing the elegant wooden floor, decorated with the same design as the flower in the old castle, painted onto the floor with surprising detail.
A wonderful staircase spiraled upwards before them at the end of the hall, and many doors below it leading to unknown locations.
They were met by a young guard, waiting inside a little ways from the doors.
The young man wore the attire of a Fanelian Knight, the white armor and green and red markings visible from where they stood. He looked to be no older than 16 or 17. He had tan skin and brown hair untidily covering a portion of his face, with chestnut eyes and cute freckles adorning his face.
He smiled at the sight of them and ran over, his jagged sword bouncing at his side.
"King Van! How good to see you your majesty! Merle, I hope your doing well!" He stopped in front of them and shook Van's hand merrily, then kissed Merle on the cheek.
When he pulled back, he took one look at Hitomi and Yukari and his demeanor changed completely.
"We have quests," he said seriously, bowing to them respectfully.
"Companions of Mrs. Merle I Presume?"
Van replied in a deep commanding voice, "No. They are my companions. Mrs. Yukari Uchida, and Hitomi Kansaki."
The boy looked at them again, this time astonished. "Hitomi! Oh my God!"
His demeanor changed once again, seaming to forget himself completely.
He knelt to the ground and lowered his head again, raising his hand into a fist and covering his heart.
"Mrs. Kansaki, I, Spark Thein, am at your service. I have waited for a chance to meet you!" He said enthusiastically, staring at the ground, awaiting a reply.
Hitomi was a bit taken aback at the boy's reaction to her name and blushed as he knelt before her.
What's going on? Am I that famous?
She bent down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to kneel. Can't you please stand up?" He raised his head, looked at her face, and blushed deeply, his freckles momentarily lost by the added redness on his face.
"Uh…Y-yes my lady." He averted his eyes as he rose in front of her, and took a shy step back, his head head still lowered. "Is there anything that my lady or lord wish?" He asked.
"Yes. Stop it!" Merle replied, shaking her head. "She isn't some kind of goddess or something! You're embarrassing her! Spark, inform Donte that they are here, but leave Gothel out of this! Hurry!" She commanded, pointing in the direction of one of the doors down the hall.
Spark nodded and dashed away, but before he could enter the door nearest, an older man stepped from it.
Spark almost ran straight into the man, and the older man had to grab onto his arm to stop himself from falling.
The man cursed loudly after regaining his balance and yelled, "Spark stop fooling around! What aren't you waiting…" He trailed off, looking at the two girls accompanying Van and Merle.
He looked darkly at them, and the expression on Spark's face. He removed his hand from Spark's arm and stepped back.
He addressed Van slowly when he walked over to them, as if pained by the very mention of Van's name, "Sire, I am glad to see you have returned. I would have liked if you had told me where you were headed. I had news…about another visitor, but it appears that there are even more then expected."
His head moved to stare for a moment at their strange attire, then with slight horror, at the duffel bags at their sides. "Will your guests be staying the night?" He asked, scornfully polite.
"I should expect!" Merle interjected angrily. "You got a problem with that?" She stepped forward menacingly and bared her claws.
"What do you want?" Van asked as properly as he could, grabbing hold of the squirming Merle.
"I would like to say that the Austurian knight Sir Allen Shazar and his young sister will arrive soon tomorrow. He sent word about an hour after you left. he answered, still staring at Hitomi and Yukari.
He was quiet for a moment, his expression growing even more sour.
"Sire?" He asked, raising his head slightly to view Van without loosing sight of Hitomi and Yukari.
"Yes?" Van replied.
"May I ask who these young women are?"
His eyes showed nothing but hatred like Hitomi had never seen, masked poorly by a forced grin.
"They are Mrs. Yukari Uchida," he raised his hand politely toward Yukari, "and Hitomi Kansaki."
His face softened ever so slightly, and he lowered his raised hand gently to hers, pulling her forward, as if she was floating on air toward him.
"My quests."
To Gothel's fresh horror he let go of the now quiet Merle and kissed Hitomi's hand.
Hitomi felt her face burn from the sweet gesture, the feel of his touch giving her goosebumps.
When he pulled back she seemed to regain her composure and had to hold back a laugh at the look on Gothel's face.
"Hitomi?" He asked her.
When She nodded, He like he might become sick and throw up his lunch, but replied forcefully, "I welcome You, Lady Hitomi," then bent low and kissed her hand lightly, and Yukari's.
"Lady Yukari." He whispered when he took her hand, no doubt making her feel very uncomfortable.
He raised up and turned away, blind to Yukari's move to brush his kiss off onto Merle, and addressed Spark, "See to it they get good rooms." Spark nodded and motioned the girls to follow.
Happy that they were getting away from Gothel, Hitomi and Yukari stepped forward and trailed quickly behind him through the open door, leaving Van and Gothel alone in the hall.
XX
The room was grand and elegant, with a wonderful view of the garden below and stunning night sky above.
To the left of the window, covered in an raspberry colored curtain, was a beautiful bed, with a richly fabricated blanket of red velvet. On it was an elegant design of white flowers connected with a small branch of long green leaves that complimented the red background nicely.
The pillows on the bed had a decoration of a brilliantly green ivory vine, spreading its leaves across the surface of their cases.
To her right was another door, that upon inspection was locked, and next to the window a simple modest wooden chair that seemed to have hastily been added to the room with no thought of coordination.
Hitomi went over and sat there on the chair for a while, looking out at the night sky, placing her head on her crossed arms and waited.
She thought about all the times she dreamed of this moment. To be on Gaea again.
How many days I cried...how many days I went to sleep in a pool of my own tears...
She had almost forgotten how beautiful it was here. She had to go down and see the gardens, but she was sure she couldn't leave the room yet, until later, when she knew that horrible man was gone.
He gave her the creeps, and it sent a chill down her spine when she thought of his cold eyes staring at her like that. It detested her to see the fake smile and the here his false words.
The very thought of him made her nauseous, so instead she thought of a happier subject; Van.
She could feel her face turn red again when she looked at her hand.
He kissed my hand…he is so sweet…
The feel of his lips on her skin was so wonderful it was like heaven to her. The memory of it filled her with unimaginable happiness.
She kissed the spot where he had kissed it and laughed at herself.
I just kissed Van's kiss. At least I kind of kissed him.
She laughed again at the silly thought but she let it linger, until secretly hoping he would come up to her right now and to do it again.
Hehehehehehe…
She was so lost in thought she was startled badly when she heard a knock at her door.
She jumped up in surprise and walked quickly over to it, hoping her face wasn't red.
When she opened the door Yukari stepped in, accompanied by Merle, who looked like she might die from laughter.
"what's up?" Yukari asked, jogging over and plopping down on Hitomi's bed.
Merle laughed harder, holding her mouth and side in a struggle to remain calm.
"What is it?" Hitomi asked, getting up from her chair.
"It's Van. He cracks me up!" Merle replied, choking from laughter.
"Van? What happened?"
Merle quieted down a bit, than answered, speaking fast.
" I went with Spark to show where to put Yukari, and when I left, I headed back to the hall to see if Van was still there. I thought you'd be hungry and wanted to suggest bringing you some food. As I got closer to the hall, I heard raised voices.
I ran over to see what was wrong, and I saw the funniest sight."
She almost burst out into laughter again, but recovered herself and continued, "Van was yelling like I had never seen…well I mean since you left. I grew used to his quietness. I had forgotten about his temper…"
She paused, her eyes clouded for a moment, but continued, "Anyway Van yelled "How dare you!" and was shaking his fists at him."
"Who?" Hitomi asked.
"Gothel! He obviously said something he shouldn't have. So he yells, "I don't want to hear those words escape your lips again! " He was shouting so angrily, I couldn't help but laugh at Gothel's horrified face."
Hitomi stared at her for a minute, than burst out laughing, Yukari joining in.
She too had forgotten Van's anger.
He had two forms of it, childish anger and rage.
The childish kind was somewhat cute, like a child not getting what he wants, but when he was really angry, that was frightening.
His eyes seemed to turn the color of blood, and his face would contort into that of a snarling beast, ready to kill.
Usually seeing him that angry was unsettling, but the thought of that look turned to Gothel was funny.
"Probably peed in his pants." Yukari interjected, laughing again.
"Looks like he did to me." Merle giggled, holding her stomach.
After a few minutes of much needed laughter, Merle sat down next to Yukari on the bed, looking over to Hitomi.
"I've missed you, Hitomi. I'm glad you're back. It really hasn't been the same without you here."
She motioned Hitomi to sit on the other side of her, and when she did, Merle hugged her tenderly.
There was a sudden silence in the room, where they held onto each other. Hitomi was surprised by Merle's sudden attitude change.
Suddenly, she felt hot tears on her shoulder, coming from Merle, who began shaking slightly.
"I can't tell you how much I've missed you Hitomi…" she sobbed softly, "how much Van has missed you."
She tightened her grip on Hitomi, as if she didn't want to let go.
Hitomi hugged her in return, patting her on the back. "I missed you all too."
Hitomi realized something then, feeling the joy mixed with sorrow in Merle's tight embrace.
Despite the horrible reason for her return, she was happy to come back, and at least, for this moment, she didn't regret it.
(That is the end of the chapter! I hope you liked it! I will continue soon, I hope. I still haven't really edited anything yet, so all this stuff was written like…two years ago. I hope you read more! Remember: I love Esca! R&r!
P.s. I know I didn't put the conversation between Yukari, Van and Hitomi at the beginning of the chapter, but trust me, I will put it in. Yukari doesn't follow Hitomi blindly to Gaea. There is a reason. Find out later about that reason, and the missing conversation in a later chapter. HA! )