Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Beyond the Moon ❯ Forest Games ( Chapter 5 )

Meow.. All this angry fluff is getting to me. Time for some fun! ^____^ Oh yeah.. a plug! If any of you have seen the short two-episode series Dragon Half, check out the first ever Dragon Half fic on Mediaminer, by mwah. Titled, "A Dragon and Her Slayer". ^.^; Now, on with the fun!

Beyond the Moon

Five

I pulled away from Allen, anger rising in my face and ready to slap him with all I was worth, when I heard the sound of a door opening and a light step on the stone porch. Glancing up, I saw Van standing on the highest step, his eyes wide, his hand trembling at his side, his face reading emotions I knew all too well; pain, shock, anger.. My voice wouldn't work so I extended a hand to him, but the pull of Allen's hands on my shirt kept me back as Van turned on his heel into the house and slammed the door behind him.

"Van!" I cried, pushing Allen away from me, but he wouldn't let go.

"He's not-" I cut him off with a cold glare, my teeth grit, causing the knight to release me in his surprise. I ran down the path and up the stares, my heart pounding as I darted up the stairs and entered the house. My blood rose in my ears as I dashed down the hallway, arms pumping. It was pointless; I knew he had beaten me to his room. Damn that Allen! I cursed mentally. I veered around a corner, arriving abruptly at Van's room.

The door was locked. I tugged and kicked, pleaded and cried, but the door wouldn't open. "Van!" I moaned, sinking to my knees. "It's not how it looked! I don't have any feelings for him!" That wasn't necessarily true; Folken had told me about the fate alteration experiment he had performed with Eriya. I supposed, despite the absence of the Fate Alteration Machine, the feelings their role-playing had caused me would always exist; but my feelings for Van overrode them like a tsunami to a coastal town.

This thought gave me renewed vigor and I continued my shouting, tugging on the door, and banging any limb that didn't already ache against the wall.

"Stop that, will you?" came a hoarse mutter from the other side of my wooden victim. I brightened a bit. I was getting somewhere. "It's late. Go to bed and leave me alone." I blinked, then narrowed my eyes and forced back the salty tears biting at my eyes.

"Not until you come out!" I cried, pounding my fist on the door. There was no response. I sighed, leaning against the wall. "Please, Van," I said, my voice quiet and cracking with the tears threatening to cascade down my cheeks. "I love you." With that, I straightened up and left to my room. I walked right past Allen, who tried some sort of reasoning with me that I didn't hear. My mind had shut itself off, and I think the blonde knight realized his endeavor was a pointless one after I slammed the door of my bedroom in his face.

***

Hitomi woke up with what felt like the mother of all hangovers. She had had her share of them back on Earth when she had tried to drink away her memories. She opened her eyes, groaning at the pain the bright light streaming in through the window caused to her already pounding head. She threw off the tangled blankets, sleepily throwing her feet over the side of the bed.

Hitomi finally managed to get to her feet, her frustration returning from the night before when she roughly opened the closet and began to fling clothes around the room. A fresh batch of salty tears streamed down her face as she changed into a loose casual dress.

Sighing at how ridiculously she was behaving, Hitomi sat down on her bed. Putting her head in her hands, she decided to carefully think through her actions before she acted to prevent the impending irrationality.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud, high pitched squeal.

"JAJUKA!" Blinking, Hitomi got up and quickly opened her door, peering into the hall where the sound had come from. A white-haired woman blew past, almost knocking Hitomi off her feet. She determined the woman to be Celena, and raised an eyebrow as the tall, female counterpart of Dilandau careened into an even taller, brown, half-dog man. Celena hugged the creature tightly, squealing some undecipherable thing.

The dog-man, who Hitomi determined to be 'Jajuka,' returned the hug and picked up Celena.

"Did you have fun while I was away?" Jajuka asked, putting the woman back down on the ground. Hitomi couldn't see Celena's expressions with her back facing her.

"I did! We have some guests!" Celena replied buoyantly, grabbing Jajuka's large paw and walking back down the hall. Hitomi slipped back into her room before she could be seen and closed the door.

"Oh! Now that's news. How has.. uh.. Dilandau been doing?" Jajuka asked, his voice suddenly taking on a nervous tone. Hitomi, her interest now perked, pressed one ear against the door so she could hear better.

"Dilly's fine. He starts acting funny whenever I mention him to Brother, but we really like those paints you got us," she replied happily. Hitomi listened as Jajuka changed the subject, and their voices began to get faint as they disappeared down the hallway.

Exhaling a breath she didn't realize she was holding, Hitomi slowly stepped out her door once again. She was quickly beginning to regret her visit there; phantom dog men, mentally unstable ex-pyros, and a certain knight breaking apart the already fragile relationship she had with Van.

She walked purposefully down the hall, although she had no real idea what that purpose was. Anything that involved avoiding Allen, explaining her situation to Van, and staying away from the other members of the household in general. Hitomi was never one for prejudices, but the white-haired woman was beginning to creep her out.

All of her fears were abruptly pulled out of the water when she entered the breakfast room, Allen munching on a biscuit and the cook scurrying out the back door as soon as she entered. Hitomi turned around just as quickly as she came in, striding back into the hall, until a voice stopped her.

"I'm sorry." Blinking, Hitomi looked at Allen. He had his head lowered lightly, his hair looking disheveled around his shoulders. Hitomi had never seen him look ruffled. Ever.

"S-so-sorry?" she stuttered out, as if testing the words on her tongue. The blonde knight nodded, then looked up.

"I had no idea," he said, his voice sounding rough and hoarse. It almost appeared as if he had bags under his eyes. "You really love him, don't you?" Hitomi blinked, an immense blush rising to her face. A small, awkward smile came onto Allen's face, and he motioned towards the chair opposite of him with one hand. Hitomi, after a bit of hesitation, sat down and picked up a biscuit on the plate in front of her.

"I understand," Allen continued. He sighed, leaning back against his chair. "Everyone has moved on, all moved past me. Marlene.. is gone, Millerna is married, and now I've lost you." His eyes seemed distant and tired, his eyebrows forming a crease along his perfect forehead. "Not that I ever had you to begin with, eh?" He grinned, which Hitomi matched with a forced smile. Allen watched her for a moment, when suddenly there was a loud crash outside. He blinked, then crossed his arms on the table and buried his face in the hole they made for him.

"Celena.. It's like she hasn't caught up with her lost childhood. She insists that.. that he is still alive, and I walked in on her playing patty-cake with nobody. Luckily Jajuka is around to take care of her while I'm away," Allen lamented, raising his head and running a hand tiredly through his hair. Hitomi nodded. "Celena threw quite the fit when she found out Jajuka was dead.. But we found him, barely alive, with severe burns, a few broken bones, and a lot of blood loss. Millerna kept him alive until the best doctors around, which Dryden gladly found and paid for, showed up and brought him back." Allen sighed. Hitomi reached out, touching his arm.

"I think she just needs a brother and the childhood she never had. She'll grow out of it," Hitomi assured him. He gave her a small smile and got up.

"Talk to Van... I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do, feel free to ask," the knight said, taking her hand and patting it. Hitomi nodded.

"Thank you. Do you know where he is?" She asked, taking her hand back subtly. He nodded.

"He left early this morning with his sword and went up the hill. There's a small sparring area I set up with some wooden dolls on the other side, and my educated guess would be that he's there." Hitomi smiled gratefully and, waiting a few seconds so as not to seem so eager, turned on her heel and darted out the back door and onto the grassy lawn, sprinting down the path and up the hill. Allen smiled and turned, going to investigate what Celena had broken or destroyed this time.

Hitomi straightened her hands, lengthening her stride and applying more pressure to her thighs as she dashed up the hill, gravity making her way even harder. All she could think of was Van; tucking her pendant into the collar of her dress, Hitomi imagined how he must be feeling. She knew it all too well. Taking the bottom of her dress and pulling it up around her legs, Hitomi slowed down to clear the top of the hill.

Dressed in full armor in the clearing stood Van, sword in hand, attacking an already mauled wooden spin-doll mercilessly. She could see the sweat that ran down his face and hear his ragged, exhausted breathing, but his powerful strokes mesmerized her. Hitomi dropped her dress, walking slowly down the hill. Van stopped his exercise, wiping his forehead with one sleeve. Feeling a presence nearby, Van looked up.

Walking down the hill towards him was a tall woman with shoulder-length brown hair, which appeared to still be in a just-out-of-bed tussle. The sun, which was still a few hours new in the sky, shone behind her and cast a halo of light around her pale dress, which clung to her in all the right places. Van stared, his sword falling to the ground beside him. Without warning, Hitomi flew down the hill towards him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders and her face wriggling into the thick muscle of his chest.

"Oh Van! Please.. You have to believe me! I.. Allen..-"

"I know." Hitomi looked up in surprise, blinking away a few tears which had formed on her cheeks. Van brushed them away, putting his arms around her. "I know. I spoke to him this morning... He told me what happened. I believe you," he said, running a hand through her hair. Hitomi smiled, hugging him tighter. And catching him off-guard for the second time that day, she jumped up and pecked him on the lips. Van blinked, and returned it lightly, his arm twining around her waist. Deepening the kiss, Hitomi rose up on her tip toes to meet him.

The two were beautifully interrupted by a squeal, and a rush of wind blew past. An exhausted looking Jajuka raced after it, yelling, "CELENA!" between heaves. The dog-man came to a halt in front of them, putting his hands on his knees and panting. Hitomi blinked, Van's arms still wrapped possessively around her.

"Dangit.. too.. fast.." he stood up valiantly, taking off after the white blur that was Celena. They wove through the trees, darting in and out of the various sword-fighting props set up all over the hill. Hitomi grinned, their chase giving her a great deal of entertainment.

Suddenly, her knees became weak, and she collapsed in Van's arms. Her head began to throb, and her world turned black.

Something floated in the air just out of her reach. A small, white object, flitting back and forth like a bird. It spun and danced, flying closer to her. Hitomi began to drift towards it, until the small object was within her reach.

Snatching it up, Hitomi gasped. "La Torre." She shivered, letting go of it and turning around, searching the endless blackness for something, anything, other than her haunting tarot card. She used her willpower to fly away, to disappear into the darkness, but it followed her. The card bounced in front of her, sending chills up her spine as it began to shake violently. Hitomi felt thunder in her ears, building up all around her and creating electricity she could feel from her fingertips down to her toes. Letting out a high pitched scream, she began to fall, hurtling down into the nothingness that surrounded her. The card flew away, prancing in its own light as Hitomi was absorbed by the darkness.

Hitomi jolted awake, a scream erupting from her throat. A large, clammy hand on her arm brought her back to reality, and she instantly opened her eyes, her mouth closing. She looked over, seeing Van sitting beside her. His face was contorted with worry, and both his hands clutched hers to his chest.

"What.. what happened?" she asked quietly, pulling the blankets up around her with her free hand. The room was warm with the evening sun that seeped in, bathing the peach walls in a soft amber.

"You just fainted all of the sudden," Van replied, putting his arms around her. Snuggling into his chest, Hitomi exhaled deeply.

"I.. I think I had a vision, but it was unlike any I've ever had," she said. Her voice cracked, and her shaking hand betrayed her.

"It's alright.. What was in your vision?" Van inquired, holding her tighter and leaning his chin on her head.

"The.. the Tower card.. it.. it means uncertainty, bad luck, misplacement or.. that something is wrong." Hitomi looked up, eyes wide and shimmering with wetness. Van patted her head and hugged her tighter.

"Try not to worry yourself over it yet. Get some rest," he instructed, laying her back down on the bed. Hitomi sighed, nodding. Van bent down, and, kissing her lightly on the cheek, left the room.

***

I was getting bored. My mind was working overtime, trying to comprehend and make sense of my vision. I hadn't been able to get a single wink since Van left my side. I could hear him chatting away over some hot dinner, if the singing teakettle was any indication. Finally, not long after the sun had set, I had my fair share of lying still and got up to investigate.

I shivered once out of my bed, rubbing my arms absently. I still wore my dress from earlier, and it was now hiked uncomfortably up to my thighs. I straightened it out and stood up, quietly opening my door and stepping out into the hall.

I wasn't sure where I was going; for some reason, I was drawn towards Celena's room at the end of the hall. Damn me and my insatiable curiosity. Maybe I just wanted to talk to her, or maybe I wanted to find out if what she said about Dilandau was true; either way, there I was, trotting silently down the hall toward the creepy, white room at the far end of the wing.

I knocked on the door, waiting for a few moments before lightly pushing it open. I wasn't sure what my problem was; the last time I had walked in uninvited, I had encountered some interesting things.

The room appeared a little different when I walked in. Maybe it was the difference in light or the absence of bright green, red, and blue papers scattered about the floor, but it seemed more refined and clean. I noticed the Zaibach general's jacket that had been hanging on the wall was missing. A shiver ran up my spine as I stepped further into the room.

"Celena?" I asked cautiously. Peeking around the wall of the entryway, I caught sight of a tall man, dressed in a black suit. His short, silver hair framed his face and red eyes as he turned to face me.

"Celena isn't here right now."