A soft rustle of cloth permeated the room as a light pair of feet darted about. The small cloaked figure took another look around the lavishly adorned room, stuffing a pair of freshly laundered shirts into a cloth sack. She had been here two days. Two torturous days. Celena had not left her side. She always brought her offerings of weak broth, weak tea, and watered down juice. She acted like she was taking care of some invalid! At one point she had even offered to feed her. A weary sigh escaped her lips. But, however cumbersome Celena's attentions were, she was grateful. After what had transpired she felt as weak as a kitten. Even now she did not feel her best, but she had to move on. Celena told her that she would be leaving soon with her brother and that she should come with them given her condition.
Yes, it was important that everyone leave Fanalia. The sooner the better. Hitomi's throat suddenly felt dry. People trickled out of the city. She hoped Rose and Yukari had heeded the evacuation orders and had left. Yukari must have come to see her at some point. All of her meager belongings were here and accounted for. She knew she could not go with Celena, no matter how nice she made things sound.
She didn't know what to say to her. Was it out of pity that she offered, knowing that there was no place for her to go? Or worse, that Celena cared about her? She had to get away from here. Before Celena's heart could be broken. She did not deserve any kindness. She was a monster. A mar on her race. A reminder of what they had done.
She hesitated before opening the door. Turning her head slightly, she heard distinct footsteps coming from down the hall. The footsteps slowed eventually, then faded away. The door creaked open. One step. Two steps. The hallway was empty. Not letting her guard down, she slunk to the end of the hall. Her heart dropped when she spotted a figure at the end of the next hallway. Even with his back facing her she recognized him as Fanalia's prince. The same youth she had thrown a water basin at. She steeled herself mentally, then took a deep breath in as she attempted to walk away from him. She was too afraid to let that breath go.
She could still make it. This was only a minor setback.
"Whatcha doing?" a small curious voice questioned. "Celena said you were sick. Shouldn't you be in bed?"
Hitomi wanted to scream. Her back tensed. She wrung her hands around the cloth sack in her hands. Her feet suddenly felt like stone. She couldn't get herself to turn around to face her questioner.
"You don't look sick. Or smell sick for that matter." The voice sniffed the air around her. A foot tapped the floor.
"I was leaving. Been here long enough. Outstaying my welcome. Celena will understand." Her face was hot with shame.
A small cat girl appeared before her. Bright eyes judged her. "Lord Van, Celena's guest is awake."
Hitomi darted away, almost toppling over the small figure in her way. The cat-girl's tail puffed out to three times its original size. Hitomi's heart thudded madly against her chest with each step she took. She was relieved to find a courtyard. There was a large stone wall surrounding the enclosure, but that would not be a problem for her. Bushes and flowers sprang up everywhere around her as she ran through the courtyard. She came to the stone wall and scrambled up it without hesitation, meeting face to face with a pair of shiny brown boots.
"May I offer you some assistance?" a polite voice asked mildly. "The view is quite remarkable."
Too stunned to think otherwise, Hitomi accepted the gloved hand offered to her by the gentleman standing on the wall. The gentleman in question had long flowing blond hair and possessed the clearest blue eyes she had ever seen. She wondered if he had watched her run through the courtyard half-crazed.
"Little Miss, do not be alarmed at my boldness, but may I ask why you were running as you were?" His brow was knit with concern. "Has someone wronged you?"
Hitomi shook her head hurriedly, attempting to catch her breath. She didn't realize how taxing the sprint would be. "No."
A black-haired youth charged through the courtyard, a desperate look about his face. Hitomi crouched down, hugging her knees to her chest. She pressed her eyes shut, willing the situation to go away.
"Should I let him stray a little longer?" the blond gentleman jested lightly.
Hitomi opened her eyes. She wondered if the finely dressed man next to her would follow her if she let herself drop off the other side of the wall. She gave him a sidelong glance and decided that he looked the type that would do such a thing. He looked full of chivalrous notions.
Today was not her day.
He rubbed her shoulder lightly, hoping to quell her sorrowful expression. Taking a moment to clear his throat, he called to the youth. The prince looked up in puzzlement. He walked up to the fence casually. "Allen! Have you seen a girl come-" His gaze fell to the honey-haired girl crouched next to Allen.
"I believe she's right here, Lord Van." Allen smiled down at the girl. "Miss?"
Hitomi didn't acknowledge him. She clambered down the wall on her own. The prince stood at the base of the fence, a worried frown on his face, waiting to catch her if need be. Allen simply jumped, landing gracefully on his feet.
"You are faster than you look," Van admitted sheepishly, his maroon eyes flickering between her face and the ground. Hitomi remained silent. Her gloomy green eyes regarded him coldly. "I should get you back."
"I need to get away from this place. You should leave as well."
Van scowled. "If you wanted to leave, then leave. You don't need to cause trouble for others." He crossed his arms and glared at her.
Her eyes began to sting. "No one asked you to follow me."
"Do you think I would be if someone wasn't so concerned about you? Are you slow?" he asked hotly.
Hitomi balled her fists at her side, shifting her stance to ready herself for a fight. Allen stepped between them, his hand lightly tapping the hilt of his sword. His expression sternly asked for silence. "That's enough, Van." Allen looked at Hitomi. "I beg your forgiveness for the intrusion. We have not been properly introduced. I am Allen Schezar, Knight of Asturia."
Hitomi ignored him. "There are more important things you should concern yourself with. Here you are chasing some girl you don't know or care for when your country is in danger. Fanalia will burn," she yelled at the raven-haired prince, her green eyes smoldering.
Van's face contorted in anger. "My brother would never let that happen. His army is always ready," he retorted.
Hitomi shook her head sadly. "No. Fanalia will burn. Army or no army. It will burn." She turned her head away, her voice becoming softer. "I saw it happen. You must believe me."
Van and Allen exchanged somber glances, their faces full of questions.
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Allen escorted Hitomi back to her room where Celena and Merle were waiting. They were playing a game of cat's-cradle when Allen opened the door. Celena smiled at the honey-haired girl, no trace of displeasure or hurt on her face. Hitomi looked down at her own boots, unsure of what to say. Celena dropped the string in her hands into Merle's outstretched paws.
"I see you are already packed." Celena gestured to the cloth sack she held. "I'm not angry. I only hoped that when you left that you would come say goodbye." She smoothed her skirts down. "I'm not quite packed yet, myself. If you would excuse me." Gently, she touched Hitomi's shoulder. She leaned closer and whispered, "I still wish that you would come with me."
Hitomi bit her bottom lip, eyes to the ground. Celena took her leave after a quick glance to her older brother. He nodded to her politely and waited until the door to close before speaking. "Do you know when they will attack?" His gaze swept up and down her figure, judging.
"No."
"Any idea from what direction they will come?"
She shook her head. Merle's eyes narrowed, darting back and forth between the honey-haired girl and the knight. The cat-girl, usually full of questions, remained silent. Allen nodded and for the moment seemed satisfied. "In any case we will be leaving in a few hours. If you are to leave, I would do so soon." Allen exited the room, taking calculated strides.
Merle made a quizzical face at the doorway. She regarded Hitomi thoughtfully. "You know, Lord Van is only looking out for Celena. They have never been close, but she's still important. She's Allen's sister, and Allen is a dear friend to both Lord Van and the king." She came closer, circling Hitomi. "She doesn't have many friends either. You are the first I have seen."
"We're not friends," Hitomi snapped.
"Lord Van thinks that you are and that's good enough for me."
Hitomi rolled her eyes at the cat-girl. "Don't you have someplace to be?"
"Not until we leave." Merle grinned at her. "You have to come. You have to keep Celena from getting Van into trouble." She tapped her bottom lip. "Strange you say that you're not friends. She never left your side. Even when those scary doctors came."
Hitomi felt a twitch in her shoulder. Never left her side? She was worried. Merle eventually left the room, leaving Hitomi to sit alone, cradling her cloth sack carefully in her hands.
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Gaddess supervised the men hauling the last of their supplies into the Crusade. It would be a two day journey to Palas, if everything went smoothly. He heard Allen come up behind him to scrutinize his work. "Almost all set. Our passengers are aboard. Just a few more things to load."
"Any sign of her?" He folded his arms casually.
"Not yet," he paused, glancing back at the Crusade, "but the prince didn't board until the king spoke with him. It's not right, brothers being separated like that."
Allen nodded, meeting Gaddess' gaze. "Has your cousin left yet? I saw her yesterday when she came to see our guest."
"They left already."
"I'm glad."
Gaddess nodded. "I am too, Boss."
Katz and Pyle made their way over to the knight. They were both grinning from ear to ear. "All loaded. Just need to close the cargo bay."
"Close it. Let's take-off."
"One problem, Boss." Pyle smiled.
Allen's brows furrowed. "Problem?" he asked.
"Yea, we're not sure how to secure this one thing. We need you need to have a look." Katz smiled, scratching his head.
The knight and his crew made their way around the Crusade to its cargo hold. Allen's cautious expression melted into surprise. He shook his head in dismay.
"Miss Hitomi."
The green-eyed girl sat atop a crate. She looked at the group of men coolly. "I changed my mind," she said simply.
"Won't my sister be pleased," Allen replied, offering her a hand down. He smiled down at her. Behind him, his men gave a chuckle before dispersing
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Van's limbs felt heavy as he stood in the cargo hold. The gravity of the situation had finally settled in. He was alone. A swarm of footsteps clattered overhead, muffled orders vibrating down through the floorboards. Van wished it would stop. All the preparation checks were meaningless to him. He did not wish to leave. Pressing his lips into a frown he lifted his hand to test a rope stretched across coarse canvas. Yes reality was setting in. He was leaving Fanalia for Asturia. He was leaving his brother to fight this war alone. His only kin was to go to war without him.
"Take Merle and that old rusted armor and leave Fanalia, brother. I have made arrangements with Allen. Go with him. Stay out of public eye and wait for my word. Fanalia's future may depend on this."
He would never forget how calm his brother's eyes were. His gaze made him feel reassured and pacified until he realized what Folken was asking him to do. To take their family's most prized heirloom and betray him by leaving. How could he ask such a thing?
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The Crusade was in the air. Hitomi stood in front of the window on the bridge. Clouds softened the light filtering into airship as she looked into the distance. Gaddess and Allen stood off to one side, pouring over a map. They gestured to the map periodically and talked quietly. Hitomi drew in a short breath between clenched teeth, then closed her eyes and exhaled. She felt unsettled. What would become of Fanalia?
What would become of her?
She had always been good with 'hunches', even as a small child. Not much surprised her. She always knew somehow when something was going to happen. She didn't know how to explain it. What happened at the tavern had been different. It was as if she had been there, watching the inferno rage. She had no control over it. Why couldn't she control it? She could in the past. Too many questions.
"Hitomi?" A sweet voice went off like a bell.
She turned and found Celena. She wore a light smile on her face as she spoke. "Pyle told me you were here. I'm sorry that-"
"No, Celena. I am the one who needs to apologize." Hitomi caught Celena's eyes with hers. "You took care of me. I have been burdensome."
"Hitomi," Celena touched her forearm gingerly. "Please remember that I was once a burden on you." The honey-haired girl did not flinch at her touch. "I am glad that you are here with me."
Hitomi felt herself relax. Perhaps coming with her was not such a terrible idea after-all.
"Come. Let's go get settled in. Our quarters are this way."
Allen watched Hitomi leave with his sister. She looked like a normal girl, but he felt there was more to her that he could not see. The terrible prediction she shared was disconcerting. He hoped to the higher powers that she was wrong. She had looked so convinced. Like she had lived it. She acted like it was set in stone. He didn't know if he should be terrified or grateful for the warning. What more secrets would she reveal?
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Night had fallen over the sky but Van Fanel could not sleep. He rested on a small cot, the top of Merle's head curled under his chin. Candlelight flickered in the hallway. Van had watched the light dance for hours. Merle nuzzled him in her sleep. He shifted in bed slightly, lightly touching the bump on his forehead. Where had Celena's friend come from? Why did she spin such awful tales? Folken would send for him soon, then the nightmares that played over and over in his mind would vanish.
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Hitomi jolted awake. Her dreams were interrupted by an intense vision of that black-haired boy puncturing his thumb with a small knife, blood dripping on a pink orb, his face set into a determined frown. Celena had informed her that this boy was the younger brother of the king of Fanalia. But what did this vision mean?
She heard Celena call to her. She inhaled slowly, her eyes snapping to the pale haired girl's form on the cot next to hers. "I heard you startle. Everything ok?" Celena rubbed her eyes.
"Yea."
She had seen that pink orb before. A man came to live with her grandmother before she had passed away. Hitomi had lived with her grandmother for a time when her mother had become weary of her presence. The man had called the pink orb a 'drag-energist' and told her it was used to power giant machines. Why he had one, she could not say. He was a strange man, always dressed in traveler's garb. She often saw him rifling through a mound of papers and books, his glasses catching the light each time he adjusted them. Her grandmother made tea each night and talked with him endlessly about Atlantis. Those were the happiest days of her life. Her grandmother's beauty blossomed in his presence. Their kind were long-lived and remained youthful for most of their days, but when her grandmother was with that man, her eyes were brighter, and her expression softer.
When he left the village he knelt before her and vowed that he would come back for her after he found what he searched for. He kissed her hands and whispered, 'Until we meet again.' She didn't weep until she could no longer see him from her front door. Hitomi was young then, but she knew that he loved her and that she felt the same way. She didn't understand why he had to leave.
He never should have left. Maybe her grandmother would still be alive if he had stayed.
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Celena nudged Hitomi awake, her voice excited. "Hitomi, wake up. The sunrise is especially stunning this morning. Let's wash and eat our breakfast on the bridge. Allen is expecting us to reach Palas before sundown." The young woman was still in her nightgown.
Hitomi's bare feet hit the floorboards. She wiggled her toes, feeling the wood floor's smoothness against her soles. Celena chattered on about Palas and all the marvelous things about like she was selling her a fantasy world. She removed herself from her blanket slowly as Celena poured water into a basin. Celena laid a dress on her own cot. "Sorry the water is cold." She told her as she undressed.
Hitomi looked away and said "It's fine." She found a facecloth and towel waiting for her beside the water basin as she approached it. She began to wash.
"We can bathe properly once we get into town." Celena smiled, then added, "And have our clothing washed."
They met Van in the hallway. His voice was gruff and groggy as he addressed Celena. Their breakfast was a simple meal of bread, cheese, and smoked meat. Hitomi and Celena stood as they ate, watching pink clouds float by. Van sat on the ground cross-legged not far from them.
Gaddess broke the quiet. "At this rate we will be in Palas before sundown."
Celena nodded. "Yes. Allen said the same thing this morning."
Hitomi squinted at the second in command. Maybe it was the lighting, but his face appeared rosy to her. He quickly looked away from Celena when he found Hitomi staring at him. No, it wasn't the lighting.
"Why don't we take a walk?" Celena suggested earnestly. She looked down at Van, whose chin had slipped down to his chest. "You could come too."
Van replied with a guttural noise that sounded like a 'No', but he got up as they started to leave. They didn't talk much as they moved about the airship. Only to greet the odd crew member they passed. They found their way to the cargo hold, surrounded by crates tied together with rope and canvas. Van smiled at something Celena said as they passed by two enormous figures covered in canvas.
"You have come."
Hitomi looked up at the second figure, startled by the voice. Curious, the honey-haired girl reached for an edge of the canvas covering the figure and peeked underneath. A smooth metallic surface appeared underneath the rough fabric. Her companions continued to walk just ahead of her, unaware of her pause and the voice that had spoken. She tugged the canvas back as much as the ropes securing it would allow her and placed her palm on metal.
"This is a guymelef," she half-queried.
The Fanalian prince turned to face her. "Yes," he replied
Celena stepped forward, looking concerned. The green-eyed girl didn't look away from the guymelef, her brows pinching together.
"You will serve me in the battles to come."
Hitomi blinked and stepped away. An image of a guymelef standing in the streets of a city burned in her mind. "Its name is Escaflowne."
"Yes." Van glared at her, his voice low.
Celena touched his arm. "I don't believe that was a question."
"You will pilot it soon." Hitomi felt entranced. She couldn't help herself from saying it, although she wanted to.
The platinum blonde's hold on Van's arm tightened when she noticed him clench his fists. "That cannot be," she said in disbelief. "He cannot."
"She's right," Van challenged. He squared his shoulders.
Hitomi looked at her palm and then at the young man, confusion creasing her brow. "If Escaflowne cannot have Strategos, he wants you."
"Tell me, soothsayer, where did you hear that name?"
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