Hello there! Long time no see. So I have a baby now and she is the greatest thing ever. I also have a new job with so much more work/stress. I recently started re-reading my old stories and a few of my favorites in the few moments I have of free time... so not as much as I'd like. I have decided to try and focus on one story finish it and then do the other. I know more people like Last Person On Earth... but this story only has (about) 3 more chapters left while LPOE has 6ish.
I have found this story harder to write since I got prego last year since its hard to write from Van's perspective on something I kind of experienced on Hitomi's side. Again this is a drama with not as much action as I'd like but the twist... Oh God the twist will totally be worth it.

Again this is posted without a beta reader as though my beta is supper awesome a said she had time to do it now... her old e-mail I used to send to isn't working, so I decided to post without her blessing and clear things up for the next chapter instead of delaying.

Forgotten Words

Chapter 5- Scars

Gripping the familiar hilt tightly I maintain the basic stance until my shoulders begin to burn with the strain. Breathing out slowly I release all the tension at once bringing the blade down swiftly in a deadly arch. My practiced steps follow the pattern of the sweeping sword motions flowing seamlessly from one to another. The cool night air doesn't reach me through the heat I am radiating. I know once my skin and sweat began to cool the uncharacteristically cold spring night with make me shiver, but that is still a ways off, and I have a lot of frustration to burn off lately.

Hitomi has been back for almost a month and things between us have only gotten worse. Once my announcement went public she shut me out completely. Not literally mind you since the stubborn girl has to be in the same room as me to keep up appearances of a happy couple, but aside from polite small talk in public not a word is said between us.

Not for a lack of trying on my part, but I seem to have greatly wronged her by going to my advisors without warning her. It goes without saying that the sooner they were informed of our 'situation' the better. Honestly how long did she think we could keep the big secret? The moment someone saw her any chance of keeping our unborn child hidden would be lost. I'd rather try to get ahead of the rumors even if that has made her hate me.

To be completely truthful I think I made the appropriate choice as a rumor has already started floating around that Hitomi and I have been betrothed since the end of the war and that I have visited her on her world.

It cleanly explains our predicament and just makes us appear as if we couldn't wait for our wedding, one we had already planned just had yet to set a date for. Not that I would ever purposely lie to my people, but it comes down to perceptions. The order in which the next heir to the Fanelian throne was conceived matters little, but ensuring he is accepted by the people let alone others of rank is a higher priority.

I don't know who started the rumor one of my advisors or more likely Merle. People seem to overlook her quick wit due to her 'enthusiasm'. She was the first to notice my growing affection for Hitomi, and her then bratty actions towards the girl were her way of trying to protect me. Proof yet again that no one can truly be protected from themselves.

After all the physical proof of my feelings for Hitomi can't be hidden. If she had come back to me sooner there might have been a more subtle way of dealing with all this. I can't and won't place blame on her entirely... after all I was intimately involved in creating this 'problem'. There has to be something that can be done to make things right between us before our wedding. A deadline fast approaching by the ever growing child Hitomi carries.

This is not a position I would ever wish anyone to be in, but we have to be prepared for any situation and I fear we were not prepared in the least. Children having children, is what I have heard whispered by some of my older advisors. I don't blame them for they are right, but after all they were the ones pushing for me to marry and provide an heir. Which I have... prematurely, mind you but still it is what they wanted after all.

I have little choice and neither does she at this point, but why Hitomi refuses to marry me is beyond my comprehension. It is how things are done here and she knows it. Is just that she doesn't want to be queen? Or that after all this she no longer wants me. My sword halts it's progress in midair.

How can I try to make Hitomi happy if it is me she resists?

These thoughts bring a bitter taste to my already dry mouth and I find I no longer have the heart to practice. It gives me too much time to think and my thoughts turn dark more often these days. As has mother's writings. I have continued reading her long forgotten words through this trying time. I only try to read one entry a day, and I don't know if it is just that I wish to savor learning new things about my lost family but also to prolong the inevitable sad ending. How far did mother get in her autobiography? Did she stop after the death of my father? Or did she chronical what we all thought was Folken's grizzly end? Is there any clue to what really happened to her? Or why she hid the strange package in the cemetery.

Regardless of all the unanswered questions the facts remain the same, that there is so much I didn't know. The wedding of my parents went off well enough and the first year of their marriage was incredibly happy, but as the years started to add up there wasn't a sign of her getting pregnant. Her mood turns sour at the rumors of her being cursed have grown yet again. Between the thoughts of her inability to produce a son for not only her love, but also to complete the prophesy. It is the dark whispers that since she is a demon the ability to create life with a 'normal human' has been denied to her.

What drivel superstitious fools believe when their fear controls their mouths? After everything I have read so far there is still no clue as to why Folken's fate could not have been the one foretold and somehow I took what was rightfully his. He should have been King. I love my people and will always put them first, but how is that fair to Hitomi? Doesn't she deserve better? She should be the first priority.

Somehow without even intending to I find myself standing outside her door. Still slick with cooling sweat I'm not exactly at my best, but knowing just as I am drawn to the strange girl from the mystic moon… I owe her. Not only my life, but my past, and now my future. I have to set things right even if the words don't come smoothly.

I raise my hand to knock but halt before making contact. What do I say? What do I want from her after all this? What can I do for her at this point? How did we get so twisted, and how do we get back to those short lived moments of understanding and mutual support?

The door opens and I still stand frozen awkwardly not sure what to say now that I am face to face with Hitomi with no witnesses around to start whispering. Noticing my still upraised hand I let it drop to my side while I take her in with my eyes.

At seven months her belly sticks out solidly even with the lose shirts and stretchy pants she wears from her world. I don't know if it's a comfort thing but she is resistant to changing her wardrobe to conform to the dress here. There has always been odd looks at her strange clothing but it seems to have come to mean more to Hitomi now, to not give up the small remainders of her old life. I can't blame her for that either. Her honey colored hair is slightly longer, but just enough to curl around her ears. Large green eyes meet mine in a stubborn almost icy way. What have I done to change the sweetly naïve, open honest, girl I met what feels like a life time ago.

"What do you want Van? It's late." She states coolly still holding the door as if she can't decide if she should slam it in my face.

"I need to talk to you." I sigh still trying to find the words.

"Well I don't want to talk to you." Hitomi starts to close the solid door in my face but as my temper spikes, and I don't give her the opportunity.

"Enough!" Slamming my hand against the wood I push back slightly, just enough to startle the girl into taking a step back. Seizing the opportunity I close the gap sliding into the room and shutting the door after me. For the first time in almost a whole month we are completely alone and I find there are so many things built up I have to say… not all of them exactly nice. "I've had just about all I can handle Hitomi. You've made it quite clear that this isn't what you wanted, and I don't blame you, but can't you see that you aren't the only one hurt here?!"

Taking a deep breath I leaned back against the door trying not to crowd her and regain some of my senses. "In the time since you've been here with me I might as well have left you home for how far you have distanced yourself. That one month I've wondered why I bothered at all. You don't want any of this… not being queen, the extra responsibility, or even me…" I trailed off losing steam.

Her bright eyes had softened, but before she can speak I continue needing to finish while I have the chance. "I don't know where we went wrong, but I love you Hitomi. Every day after I sent you home I thought only of wanting to be by your side, but knowing that as long as you were safe and happy... even if I missed you I could be happy too. Its always been you for me even before I could admit my feelings. This should be our chance to finally be happy together, not a greater distance between us. I can't change who I am and I would have hoped you would never ask me to-."

So wrapped up in my speech I hadn't noticed Hitomi stepping closer to me until she placed her finger tips gently against my mouth, silencing me. "Can I talk now?" She asked softly. I can just nod afraid to break the moment that was growing warmly between us.

"Maybe I have been unfair pushing you away, but I have been alone in this…" She paused placing a hand protectively yet tenderly on her rounded belly. "Long enough that letting anyone in even you Van seems like a huge leap. I've never dreamt of being swept off into a fairytale ending where the charming royal marries the poor normal girl and happily ever after ends their story."

She pauses but it was my turn to listen so I let her continue uninterrupted. "Being King is part of who you are Van… and I would never ask you to give up your country… a country you lost once and I saw how it almost destroyed you. Van it took me too long to sort out my feelings in the past, but even though I love you it is hard not to feel like I've rushed in yet again and made more trouble then was necessary." She twisted the fabric of her long shirt with nervous fingers. "I just don't want to feel trapped anymore and I want us to stop blaming each other and ourselves. Can we start over please?"

This is my Hitomi, with the warm eyes and unsure tenderness. "I want nothing more." Holding out my hand I started with a slightly nervous smile. "My name is Van, former pilot of the Escaflowne and King of Fanelia."

With a small laugh she took my out stretched hand and placed it on her belly. "I think we've met before." This amazing girl smiled brightly at me. "I'm Hitomi and though I have visions... I never liked being called a Seer. I'm just Hitomi even though it looks like I'll be queen soon, without having to read the future."

There was a small yet solid movement against my hand. I knelt in front of her placing my forehead to her warm skin and the child living within. Closing my eyes I felt a closeness like no other. "It is nice to meet you both." Hitomi's hand came to rest on my hair and I knew then that we would be alright after all.

We could get through anything as long as we did it together. "Stay here tonight?" She asked tentatively

I can't help smiling. "Only if there I can share with you something that has become special to me."

We spent the night talking and reading excerpts from mother's diary. Hitomi and I had a lot to catch up on together.

Purple 17th Moon

I am tired beyond anything I could have ever thought possible but also so full of joy I can't sleep. My son sleeps, his little body a warm comfort against my skin. I feel every soft breath and strong heartbeat as if it were a part of my very soul. My Folken.

It has been five years since I first met my love Goau. There were times where it felt like this day would never happen. All the sadness and darkness has been washed away from me the moment I saw this sweet little face. Goau beamed brightly when he held his son for the first time. Even without the weight of fate I feel as if my whole life was leading up to this moment.

Green 18th Moon

Folken is just a month old and already the high expectations are piling up on his tiny shoulders. Officially declared heir to the Fanelian throne he has no way to know that as crown prince the whole country looks at his every move. I want to hide him from the world but know protecting him too much will just make him weak to the darkness coming. Deep down I can feel it coming and that scares me. Please Gods protect Folken.

White 12th Moon

Oh cruel fate why must you twist us so. Thinking the bright spring day would be good for my sweet boy I took him for a walk through the gardens. His tiny hands reached for the soft petals of a flowers when I first saw her. A vision or apparition maybe but I knew her to be there even though the guards swear no outsiders could have gained access to the grounds.

A slight but pretty girl, of no more than fifteen moons with short cropped light brown hair, large green eyes, and odd clothing appeared to me amongst the flowers.

"He is not the one." She spoke simply almost sadly. "Folken, Poor Folken will fail at everything he tries. He will not slay the dragon. He will not be King. He will NOT save the world. He will not live to see the new world at peace."

"Who are you?!" I demanded clutching my small son tightly to my chest as if I could protect him from the dark words she tells me.

"Who I am doesn't matter 'yet'." She sighed eyes sad the girl holds out a pink pendent one I recognize belonging to my people. The Atlantian stone swings gracefully from her slender fingers. "Your second son will save me and the world. He will be 'the dragon' born on this day ten years from now. Have faith the wheel of fate still turns."

With that her presence was gone, and I was left standing holding my whimpering infant. The day suddenly felt cold and dark. The truth rang in her words even if I would never want to believe that horrible future.

I stop reading shocked. Mother can't be talking about Hitomi… can she? The description matches exactly to the girl now asleep with her head on my chest. I had continued reading after her eyes shut peacefully, and only happiness had kept me awake. How is it possible? Even if you accounted for the time difference we know Hitomi's grandmother visited Gaia when Allen was around ten years old so when Folken was born Hitomi didn't even exist. The girl Mother describes is my Hitomi from the war. It has to be. She even predicted the exact day of my birth White 12th moon less then two months after Folken's tenth birthday.

Obviously Hitomi has no memory of appearing to Mother at any time, but then again she once told me that my mother had appeared to her in the mystic valley looking exactly as she did when I was five, when she disappeared into the forest after Folken. Hell I saw her myself right before we were transported to Zaibach. She hadn't aged a day from my childhood. I took it to be her soul... a sign that she was truly dead. The ties of fate twist tighter around us.

The next morning when Hitomi wakes smiling and refreshed I decide that she doesn't need to know the description of the vision. The fact that it happened is more important than who might have foretold Folken's grizzly fate.

I can't give her something else to worry about right now. We have enough to deal with excluding strange happenings from the past. Preparing for the day we attend breakfast and I know the difference between us has been noted by those sharp enough to read our body language and subtle changes. Merle being one of those people, she has been carefully observing us since Hitomi's return.

The pink haired trouble maker saunters over to us with mischief on her face and a verbal jab on the tip of her tongue. I give her a sharp look though I know how little good it will do if Merle plans on trying to rile Hitomi up.

"Finely kissed and made up did you?" She smirks watching the blush rise on Hitomi's cheeks.

"I don't see how it's any of your business." Hitomi stated crossing her arms over her chest defensively. Only accentuating her protruding belly and making the cat-girl grin knowing she hit a nerve.

"I would warn you two about keeping your hands off each other but I see I'm too late." She grinned watching as even my face begins to burn.

"Merle." I warn.

"Chill Van I can fight my own battles." Hitomi shoots at me before turning on my sister. "Don't be too sore about it Merle, but it's a good thing he loves me. I can't imagine Van ever wanting to have kittens with you."

Shocked I glance around to see if anyone over heard this outrageous conversation.

Suddenly Merle bursts out laughing loudly. Drawing attention that we hadn't gathered until now. Tears of laughter rolling down her stripped cheeks. "But can't you just see babies with Wings and Cat Ears!" She bursts out before throwing her arms around Hitomi is a warm hug. "Good to have you back you weirdo."

The girls both grin as they hug like long lost friends, and not two girls who had been actively avoiding each other until this moment. Gods what have I gotten myself into.

The rest of the day pasted pleasantly enough. Hitomi hadn't made much of an effort to explore the castle or town until now as if she were just a temporary guest and not a future ruler. She absorbed every detail and fact with fresh eyes and enthusiasm. It was during the early afternoon that we ran into the next test of our newly established relationship.

Walking the grounds together we were inspecting the training yard where several guards practiced to maintain various skills; hand to hand combat, weapon drills, and even some light melif' fighting.

"We are experiencing a time of peace, but there is no point to let ourselves be caught unaware again." I explain as she watches a bout between two armored units. One using a sword and shield while the other dared to use the trickier less common duel sword combo.

"Do you ever fight like this?" Hitomi asks watching as the Two-Sword user darts forward strongly pushing back its opponent with fast hard attacks.

"Sometimes, mostly I practice alone." I speak clearly letting my voice be carried along with the nostalgic clash of metal on metal. "If I do participate like this I borrow a standard suit and it is mainly for fun. Escaflowne shouldn't ever be awoken again. Not in my lifetime or even our children's time I pray."

"I hated the violence, danger, and pain... but there was always something almost beautiful about you when you fought." Hitomi spoke clearly still watching the armors battle. "I guess I always kind of admired your strength."

She turned to me with a smile that took my breath away. "I was always so happy to see you win since I knew how hard you fought to get where you were. Not that I wanted you to hurt anyone, but when you would emerge victorious I knew you were safe… and sometimes that is all that mattered deep down."

I was so drawn to her words I completely forgot about the Melif duel taking place on the field in front of us. That was until the Shield-User fell sending a large cloud of dust out that bit roughly at our legs. The Two-Sword armor placed the tip of one sword on the energist and the other at the helm of it's opponent confidently.

Hitomi clapped along with the other watching guards. "Can I meet the fighters?" She asks almost shyly.

"I think they would be honored." I nod taking her hand and leading her along the safest path towards the two armors.

Stepping back the Two-Sword sheaths it's weapons with a flourish. The fallen Melif opens first where a scruffy muscled guard grunts "Show off." at the winner as he descends to check the damage on his unit. The other melif opens to reveal a tall women with a long golden-brown braid draped down her back and bare arms showing elaborate ink permanently decorating the skin. She bowed to her opposite before gracefully leaping from the winning armor with a grin.

This might not be such a good idea I thought as we closed the gap to the fighters. The other guards had also paused in their drills at our approach. The fighters dropped to their knees. Normally they give me a respectful salute since it is not unusual for me to make my way out to see them, and as King I am also their military commander. Hitomi is the reason for the elaborate show of respect.

I know it makes her uncomfortable, but it is just another fact of life here. Once they become more comfortable a simple bow will do, but this is a rarity for them.

Hitomi looks to me but I just shrug. They are kneeling before her not me. I can't tell them to raise that would be rude to them and to her.

"Please stand." Hitomi directs with a confidence that makes me proud. "I would just like to congratulate the winner and say what an interesting fight it was to watch."

Everyone stands and the winner steps forward placing a hand over her heart she gives Hitomi a slight bow. "The honor was mine."

"What is your name?" Hitomi asks addressing the fighter directly.

"Medina, My lady." She gives Hitomi a small smile. "I was honored when the King allowed me to immigrate to Fanelia after the war."

Recognition brightened Hitomi's emerald eyes, as she turned to me lowering her voice so it didn't carry. "The other draconian you told me about?"

I nodded to her question.

"I thought you said their wings were out?" She questioned innocently.

The woman heard her of course. "I am honored the King spoke of me but as you can see my wings are gone."

"I don't understand... did you figure out how to put them away like Van can?" My sweet girl asked and I knew this wouldn't end well.

"Not exactly." The guard spoke calmly. "Let me show you." She turned away from us dropping what little armor she wore to the ground. In one swift movement she pulled the back of her undershirt up and over her head without shame. Keeping her front covered, her lean toned back was bare except for the two horrific mounds of scar tissue over her shoulder blades where bright wings would never again sprout.

Hitomi took a step back her hands over her mouth in wordless shock and horror.

"Not everyone can be as excepting as you my lady." Medina dropped the fabric covering her scars once more.

Even though the terrible sight was gone the damage was done. I knew this night that my poor Hitomi would be haunted by dreams of crying children with butchered wings.

To be continued…

AN- Well?! What did you think! There was my cameo for this story. I've been a teacher, a fighter, a baker, and now a guard. Not Sure what I will be in Last Person On Earth but it is always fun to find a spot for my cameo without letting her take over like my first story. So Now Van knows that it wasn't Folken who would save the world. I did throw in the twist with Hitomi being the seer that told Varie about Folken's failures. A little action, some fluff, and a whole load of drama. I can't wait to continue this I really want to shock a few of you. Please review!

-Banryuu

*P.S- Edited I realized I said Hitomi was a child when Folken was born since I did straight math without accounting for the time changes. Think about it... Hitomi's grandmother met Allen's father somewhere around where Allen was 10... when Allen was ten Van was 5 When Van was five Folken lost his arm was presumed dead and Varied disappeared. Could it have been the power of that tragic chain of events that drew Hitomi's Grandmother but it wasn't time yet so she was sent back. Ten years later on Gaia was something like 40 years on Earth and this time Hitomi was taken... so on so forth. Ramble concluded.