Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Darkness Falls ❯ Chapter 1: Shattered Family ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1~~Shattered Family

"'Tousan…I am home." She whispered the words, hoping they didn't sound as hollow as she felt. Her lower lip quivered as her father gripped her in a tight hug. She felt his shoulders heave as he let go all the emotions he had been holding for so long.

"Where the hell have you been?" Her father yelled as he wrenched himself free from their embrace. His eyes glistened in the morning light. Tears clouded his anger, hurt, and happiness. She stared at him as her tears came back with more force.

"'Tousan…" she whispered.

"Don't say anything. We'll talk with your Okassan inside." He ushered her into the living room and left to go to the kitchen. Hitomi sat on the couch and waited patiently for the barrage of unanswerable questions. She sat and wrung her hands silently wallowing in her own misery afraid of what was to come of her. Would they believe her? Would they accept her back? Her father came out of the kitchen and went up the stairs to get her mother. Hitomi heard her parent's door slam open and her mother come racing down the stairs.

"Where have you been? Where have YOU been?" Her mother raged at her. Hitomi stared at her and then looked down. She couldn't tell her about Gaea. That would be a first class ticket to the psych ward.

"Tell me damn it! Where the hell have you been? You've been gone for how long? Two fucking months and then you appear on our doorstep and expect life to continue. I don't think so missy! Now tell me where you disappeared to," Her mother said as angry tears poured down her cheeks.

"Gomen nasai Okassan, I can't tell you where I've been. You wouldn't believe me if I told you," she whispered. Her mother's eyes widened as her suspicions played out in her head. She slapped her daughter hard across the face. Hitomi stared at her mother in shock. She brought her hand up to the growing red mark on her cheek. Looking at her hand and then at Hitomi her mother dropped to her knees and wept uncontrollably. Her mother reached out towards the couch where Hitomi sat, but it was too late. Hitomi was already running up the stairs. All that greeted her was the sound of Hitomi's door slamming shut.

Hitomi threw herself on the bed she had not slept on in months. She pulled out the feather that Van had given her and held it to her bruised cheek. Fingering the soft white feather she began to cry; she cried herself to sleep. She slept for hours in a restless sleep and when she woke up, the sun had already set. She went to the window and stared at the rising, silvery moon. She closed her eyes and tried to remember everything about him. "Van."

Heavy footsteps ripped her away from her fond memories. She turned as the door opened and her father walked in. "We need to talk."

"Okay." Hitomi whispered. She went and sat on the edge of her bed and waited for her father to join her.

"Your Okassan loves you, you know that, right?" he began as he brushed a strand of straw colored hair out of her eyes. "She means well. And today, well, she…was hurt when you left. We all were, even Mamoru. But your arrival back was so…sudden. We weren't expecting it. We thought you weren't coming back."

Hitomi studied the hands in her lap. Her father was stalling and she didn't know why. She turned her green eyes and stared into his.

"I'm sorry I left. I didn't want to but I had to. Gomen nasai, sumimasen Otousan," Hitomi said quietly as she turned back to her hands.

"I know you didn't, sweetie. Things happen. But this is for the best," he whispered and pulled her close to him. "It's all for the best."

"What are you talking about, 'Tousan?" She eyed him, confused and bewildered.

"Your mother and I decided that you should go live with your cousin in America for awhile." Hitomi looked up and was about to speak when he shushed her. "It's only until you finish high school and your mother has already called Willow. Everything is arranged. You'll be going to live in Merideth, California."

"I don't want to go to America. I don't want to leave Yukari or my school." Her attempt was weak. She knew that nothing she could possible say would change their minds but she had to try. Truthfully, the thought that leaving wasn't all that bad. She didn't feel that close to Yukari anymore and leaving Japan didn't seem that difficult. In fact, it seemed tempting.

"Honey, you've been kicked out of school already and you'll always be in contact with Yukari." He stood up and walked toward the door. "You're going. There is nothing I can do about it. Your mother has decided. You leave in three days. I'll give you money so you can buy new clothes for your trip and everything else you'll need."

Hitomi listened to the sounds of footsteps as her father left the room and descended the stairs. Once she couldn't hear him anymore, she threw herself down on the bed and cried.

"Why did I even come back? I knew they wouldn't want me, it's been too long. I'm no longer who I once was. Maybe this new change is good," she humored herself. Maybe, she thought, maybe not. She lay back on the bed and went back to sleep.

The next day, Hitomi's father gave her money, as promised, to buy clothes and anything else she would need. Her mother called Yukari to go with her but Hitomi never wanted to see her again. She wanted to be alone as she felt.

Hitomi went into Tokyo and bought a new wardrobe of black, blue, and red. After she went to half a dozen stores, she stopped at a beauty salon and had her hair streaked with magenta. She smiled at her reflection. Nothing like a new look to start a new life. She left the salon and continued on her way. As she was walking down the street, she spotted Yukari and Amano coming toward her. They both kept looking over the crowd, as if they were searching for someone. Hitomi knew exactly who they were looking for.

"Kuso! Why can't they take the hint that I want to be alone?" She moaned under her breath. The pair continued to move toward Hitomi but they hadn't spotted her yet. Hitomi ducked into the closest shop, not caring what it was. Once inside, she dodged behind a bureau and acted as if she was studying it with the intent to buy. She glanced continually at the window and waited for Yukari and Amano to pass by.

After what seemed like an eternity, she saw the pair walk by and away from the shop. Hitomi let out a sigh of relief and turned to look at the shop she had taken shelter in. It was an eccentric antique shop. Antiques lined the walls and aisles. Hitomi found herself surrounded by things older than she could imagine. The scent of dust and age filled her nose and made her think of an old, forgotten library she'd wandered in not so long ago. She felt guilty for using the store as a hiding spot with no intent to buy so she decided that it couldn't hurt to look around. It was the least she could do.

Hitomi wandered up the aisles and looked at the various objects for sale. Most of it was junk, although some of it looked like it could be very valuable with a little cleaning and love. Hitomi meandered to the back of the store, aimlessly looking with muted disinterest. It wasn't until she reached the less traveled part of the store that she saw the one thing that captured her interest. It sat alone on an old and worn wooden table. A meager and discolored piece of aged ivory cloth sat in a vain attempt to make either the table or the object on top look more appealing. Hitomi ran her fingers over the exquisitely carved cherry wood masterpiece. No dust rested on the surface, it looked like none ever had. Beautifully carved jasmine vines slithered along the sides, intertwining themselves around the box in a frozen dance. Tiny rope detailing weaved around the top and bottom of the box, framing the vines. The box had what looked like silver hinges and a silver key hole with a key stuck in the lock. Inside the lid of the box was engraved an inscription in a language that had not been seen or heard on Earth in over a thousand years. But what caught Hitomi's attention the most was the lid of the box. Two wings were carved into the lid. Every feather looked real. Hitomi ran her fingers over the wings and closed her eyes. "Van."

"Can I help you, Child?" An ancient and withered voice broke into her sad and depressing thoughts. Hitomi opened her eyes and whirled around in surprise. She stared, surprised at the smiling, grandmotherly woman before her. The woman wore a navy blue dress kimono with soft pink cherry blossoms decorated throughout the traditional robe. The obi was a matching shade of light pink and the back bow was tied in an exquisite yet difficult manner. "Did I scare you, Child? Gomen nasai. I didn't mean too."

"That's alright. I am rather jumpy today anyway." Hitomi smiled warmly. The woman seemed kind and looked almost to be Hitomi's grandmother. "What does the inscription on this box say?"

The woman smiled and moved toward her. She reached out and took the box in her hands. "It's a very beautiful box. I can see why you would be interested in it. But I do not know what the inscription says. It is in a language that few alive know. But perhaps your cousin will know it. In fact, I believe she will know it very well."

Hitomi's jade eyes widen in shock. "How...How did you know I have a cousin?"

"I know many things, Dear Child. I know things that you will know soon enough," the woman winked at Hitomi and took her by the hand. "Now, I believe you want to know how much this is, am I correct? Of course, I am! It's a beautiful box and it is fitting that it should go to a beautiful and gifted girl such as you. And since, you are such a special girl; I'll give you a very special price. I'll let you have the box for a mere 50 dollars. A real steal if you ask me."

Hitomi stared at the woman, mouth a gape and a mix of shock and wonder written on her face. "50 dollars? That's all? It surely must be worth more than that! What's the catch?"

"There's no catch, Child," the woman's twinkled mischievously and Hitomi knew the woman was hiding something. The box was beautifully carved though, but more importantly, it reminded her of Van. "I'll take it."

Hitomi left the shop with another package tucked into one of her bags a few minutes later in high spirits. She was in such high spirits that she let her guard down and forgot to check and see if Yukari and Amano were still wandering the streets looking for her. She hadn't gone that far before she heard a feminine voice call out her name. Hitomi closed her eyes and bit her lip before cursing lightly under her breath. Hitomi turned around to see Yukari and Amano hurrying up to her, looking ecstatic that they had finally found their beloved friend. Hitomi looked less than happy. She was cornered and had nowhere to hide.

"Hitomi! Hitomi, I am so glad your back! Where have you been the past two months? Amano and I were so worried!" Yukari ran up to Hitomi and gripped her into a tight hug. Hitomi broke away from Yukari and looked at her . Hitomi shook her head and turned and began to walk away.

"Hitomi , wait! Talk to me! I've been your friend for so long. Hitomi, please." Yukari chased after Hitomi, confused over the sudden change in her friend. Amano grabbed a hold of Hitomi's arm and spun her around so that they were face to face.

"Why are you doing this Hitomi? Yes, you're leaving soon, but that doesn't mean we're going to abandon you," Amano gripped her arm tighter, willing her to answer.

Hitomi met his gaze, her eyes devoid of all emotion. "I was abandoned long ago. I never should have come home. When I go, forget all about me. Act as I never came back. It's easier this way. Trust me. Let me go."

Amano and Yukari stared at her with a mix of hurt and shock written over their faces. Amano let go of her and brought his hand up to her face but thought better of it at the last moment. "Fine. You'll regret doing this."

"I always regret everything I do. Why should this be any different?" With that, Hitomi took her packages and disappeared into the crowd. She became dead to her friends that she had known since kindergarten. But even with them, she always felt out of place. She felt something more was different about her, something more than being a Seeress. Something she couldn't figure out. Something…something.

Hitomi walked to the home she would be leaving in two days time. Wandering the house for one of the last times of her life was very depressing. No matter what her parents claimed, Hitomi never intended to come back to Japan. It was plain they wanted her gone and she was not going to disappoint them. Not again. Not again.

Hitomi pulled out the carved, antique box she had bought that day and placed the white feather Van gave her into the box. Tears filled her eyes as she traced the feather lightly with her finger. "Van, I think I love you."

The sound of footsteps coming toward her bedroom door caused her to slam the box's lid shut, locking the feather in the box. She turned toward the door as her father knocked on the door to tell her to come down for dinner. She left and followed her father to what would be a tense and somber dinner.

After dinner and the many failed attempts by Mamoru to cheer everyone up, Hitomi wandered back upstairs and locked herself in her room. She went to her dresser where she had left her new treasure. She ran her hands over it and tried to open the lid. It wouldn't budge. Hitomi's eyes widened as she realized her mistake. She covered her head in her hands and began to cry. "Why did I come home? Oh, yeah. That's right. I thought they missed me and now they're just sending me away!"

Hitomi walked to the window and stared at the night sky. The moon still hung bright although it was beginning to set and was almost through with its cycle. "What are you thinking about Van? Do you think of me? Or am I already out of your thoughts?"

She turned on her radio and listened as one of her favorite songs began to play.

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad
How clearly I first saw you smilin' in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard

But I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to loose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light

And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories

And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Weep not for the memories

The song ended and Hitomi blinked back the tears that had been threatening to spill. She turned the radio off and made a promise to herself. "No more tears, Hitomi. Cry no more. They have never helped you in the past and they won't help you now. I will never cry again."

She changed into the new Joe Boxer short-shorts with yellow happy faces on them and the matching yellow tank top. She looked in the mirror and smiled grimly at the irony. "So many happy faces and yet I feel nothing."

She laughed emptily and crawled into bed. Tomorrow she would pack and spend her last moments with her family before she left for good. She glanced at the window towards the moon and her secret treasure sitting silently on her dresser. Before she fell into a dreamless sleep, she swore she saw faint flash from the key hole in the box. Then again, she couldn't be sure of anything anymore.

A/N: The song was written and sung by Sarah McLachlan.