Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Beyond the Moon ❯ A Semblance of Defeat ( Chapter 24 )

Whew, people were up in arms about that last cliffhanger. *shakes head* This chapter was incredibly fun to write. I think some of it was influenced by a roleplay my friend and I are doing; I'm sure she'll figure out what parts were when she reads it. Anyway, here it is!

Beyond the Moon

Twenty-Four

"VAN!" Hitomi screamed again, hoping against hope that he would burst from the falling water, glorious, white wings reflecting the disintegrating light. She jerked violently against Allen's hold on her arm, letting out a cry of despair as the roaring of falls continued on as if nothing had ever happened.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Dilandau cried, swinging his sword. "That was for Gatti! Dallet! Chesta! All of them!" He laughed, eyes charged, mouth wide. Hitomi looked at him with a horrified expression, before she suddenly crumbled to the ground in a dead faint. Allen reluctantly released her arm as he turned to face the howling albino.

Before he could blink, Dilandau was suddenly slammed to the ground. He stared up, finding Allen's sword pressed to his throat. The knight's teeth were grit, and his blue eyes blazed with anger and hatred. "Damn you!" Allen cried, pressing the blade closer to Dilandau's throat. The albino merely grinned, watching as the knight's face twisted and contorted in his frustration and fury. Chid had quickly moved to Hitomi's side, and now cradled her in his arms, trying in vain to wake her up.

Dilandau suddenly jerked up, knocking a surprised Allen off of him. The knight snarled, before he was suddenly tackled to the ground. Allen let out a cry of surprise as Dilandau held his neck in one hand, slowly tightening his grip.

Before Dilandau could blink, Allen slammed a knee right in the albino's crotch. The ex-general let out a hoarse cry, grabbing the injured area and rolling onto the grass moaning. Before Dilandau could respond, Allen had hauled him up by the arms and now held his own blade at the albino's throat.

"Ready to die?" the knight hissed, overcome by another wave of anger. Never in his life did he remember ever losing control of himself; but at that moment, nothing mattered. "Just like you killed Van!" Dilandau snarled, struggling against Allen's rock-hard grip. Roles suddenly reversed, Allen pressed the blade harder against Dilandau's throat, holding his arm at gross, unnatural angles.

"Brother! Stop it!" Allen jerked in surprise as he heard Celena's cry of objection. Dilandau looked equally flustered, raising his wide, red eyes.

Before Allen could react, Celena had plowed right into him, tearing Dilandau out of his grasp. Dilandau spun, automatically grabbing the offending woman in a headlock. She cried out in alarm, but the surprised Allen only watched on in stunned surprise.

Dilandau shook his head, as if clearing it, and released Celena suddenly. She stepped back, eyeing him with wide, blue orbs.

"Celena!" Allen said suddenly, his voice harsh and deep. "How dare you! Leave right this instant!"

Celena turned on him, her once soft eyes suddenly blazing. "No! I won't let you hurt him!" she cried, looking between a still shocked Dilandau and her overbearing brother.

"Do you know what he's done?!" Allen demanded, pointing to the clueless albino. Dilandau snarled, regaining his attention to the situation. Unwilling to mow down Celena in an effort to cut down Allen, he remained rooted to the spot and merely watched in agitation.

"You're holding him to things he did eight years ago! He's changed, Brother," Celena replied, biting her lip.

Allen laughed suddenly. "You're so naive!" he announced, his eyes becoming a deadly seriousness. Celena took an automatic step back, bumping into Dilandau. He refused to move and merely watched with narrowed eyes as Allen spoke. "That man you defend just killed Van!"

Celena's eyes widened, and she turned to face Dilandau. The albino watched her mutely. "You knew from the beginning," he said lowly. "I will never change. Not for you, not for anyone."

Celena stepped back, covering her mouth with one hand, her eyes wide. Allen stepped up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. She shrugged him off and furiously shook her head, as if trying to forget what she had just heard. "You're lying!" she cried, staring with cloudy blue eyes at the stone-faced Dilandau.

"They definitely are not," Chid spoke up, lifting Hitomi into his arms. "He pushed Van right off the cliff."

Celena suddenly narrowed her eyes. "I don't care what they do to you," she hissed with sudden animosity. Allen looked at her in surprise, but Dilandau merely closed his eyes.

With that statement, Celena turned on her heel. Their - no, her - sorrel horse stood off some distance away, chewing on grass. She grabbed the reins and climbed on suddenly, scaring the already jumpy animal into a swift gallop.

As she disappeared down the hill, Allen turned back to where Dilandau now stood. His eyes watched the last point she had touched, face relaxed.

Dilandau put his arms out in front of him, holding his wrists together. He focused his now angry, red gaze on Allen. "You heard the lady," he said in a barely audible voice. "Do what you want with me."

***

I slowly opened my eyes, the weight of a thick, wet cloth hindering the movement of my eyelids. I reached up with one hand, pulling the cool towel off my forehead and tossing it on the ground.

Where was I? I tried to focus, and soon found myself in my room at Hudogar. I winced, suddenly remembering everything from the few moments before I had fainted.

"Van!" I cried suddenly, leaping to my feet. I wobbled, toppling back onto the bed in a heap. "Maybe it was all just a bad dream," I mumbled, clutching the covers in my hands. I nodded my head quickly. "All a dream. I'll get up and go out and find Van waiting for me." With that assurance in my clouded mind, I stood up. I still wore my clothes from the day before: my riding clothes. I pushed the note out of my mind, hoping against all hopes that it was just a dream.

I crossed my room, finding it to be lit with the morning sun. It looked to be at least nine or ten, much after time for breakfast. Maybe there would be food waiting for me, I thought. I crossed the room, opening the door and peering out into the hall. There was complete silence. Don't worry, I said to myself. He's probably just eating.

I crossed the threshold, quickly descending the stairs. I trotted into the main food hall.

Allen and Chid sat at the table in complete silence. There was no food, but most importantly, no Van. "Is he out practicing?" I asked nervously. Both men's heads instantly raised, assessing me with wide, surprised eyes.

Allen was the first to speak, standing up as he addressed me. "Hitomi, you remember what happened," he said quietly.

He was gone. Van had really fallen; my angel had fallen. I felt my knees crumble beneath me, sending me to the ground. I felt bile rise in my throat, and my entire insides seem to clench into a wave of pain. I felt blood pulsating in my ears, deafening the sudden sobs escaping me.

I leaned my head over, feeling the cold of the stone floor against my forehead. I could feel my body convulsing beneath me; but nothing mattered. The pain inside me overwhelmed every part of my being. I could feel his absence.

Van was gone.

I don't remember much of anything that happened after that. Allen gathered me up in his arms, trying his best to soothe me with calm words. I remember screaming at him, pounding my fists on his chest as he instructed Chid to gather my things.

He held me the entire way. We climbed into a carriage; how it came to be there, I did not care to wonder. Allen kept me close to him for all the long hours we traveled. The gesture only made me cry harder, made me realize I would never feel Van's warm embrace again.

By the time we arrived wherever we were going, I had quieted down. I merely lay limp against my escort, my eyes open and unfocusing. I remember seeing Millerna: she fussed and cried and hugged me, but I don't think I gave her any sort of response. I heard Chid and Dryden conversing as Allen lifted me up once again, carrying me steadily up a flight of stairs.

It was the palace. Was everything alright in Asturia again? I only wondered for mere seconds, slowly feeling myself drifting out of consciousness. By the time I knew where I was or who I was with, I was asleep.

***

The days passed slowly after that. Hitomi sat in the room she had been giving, only acknowledging her visitors for a few moments. Merle came in to see her first, bursting into tears as soon as the cat-woman entered the room. Hitomi lightly hugged her, but remained silent and steadfast afterwards. Merle came back a few times in the week or more that she was in her comatose state. Allen visited three times daily, bringing her meals which she ate slowly and very little of. Millerna also visited often, and tried her best to comfort Hitomi with daily stories, gossips, and anything else that flowed from the rejuvenated blonde's mouth.

During that time, Hitomi slowly came to grips with her situation. Van was completely gone; there was no more she could do. She decided on her next course of action.

When Allen brought in her breakfast the morning of what appeared to be the tenth day.

"Allen," Hitomi addressed, almost choking on the soreness in her throat. Allen looked at her in surprise, a smile lighting up his face. Hitomi was stone-cold, and her once bright, green eyes seemed to have lost all of their luster.

"What is it, Hitomi?" Allen prodded, setting the tray down on the bedside table. Hitomi watched him for a moment.

"I'm going home now." Hitomi looked away, staring absently at the door. Allen nodded slowly, before taking her hand in his.

"I'll watch you go," he said quietly, not even daring to argue. "You should be happy; you deserve to be happy."

After informing her friends of her decision, Hitomi had suggested returning to Fanelia. Though an heir had not been appointed to the throne, one of Van's trusted advisors had taken the position of regent until a new king could be found. They were currently scouting the young princes of fellow countries, making treaties and economic compromises in the time of national weakness.

The ride had been a long one. Allen had opted to go with Hitomi, ready to see her to the end of her journey. She had silently accepted. Merle, intent on seeing everything for Van's funeral in order and keeping a close eye on the affairs of the state, had joined them with an equally somber Gaddess. The cat-woman had begun to show signs of her pregnancy physically, but it had not even come close to stopping her from her endeavors.

They had just entered the capital city of Fanelia when Hitomi spoke up. "Allen," she asked quietly. The knight turned, acknowledging her with a nod of attention. "Where is Celena?"

Allen sighed, turning away to look out the window. "We imprisoned Dilandau," he admitted. Hitomi inhaled sharply. "She stays down there all day with him. The guards tell me he tries to talk to her, but she won't respond. They've started bringing her meals to her down there, and she's even insisted for a cell next to him."

Allen looked back at her. "Why is it that all the people most important to me in my life are leaving me, one by one?" he asked quietly.

"I may return someday," Hitomi said, putting her hands together on her lap. Allen nodded slowly, looking back out the window.

***

Celena sat in her usual chair, picking through her meal in the torchlight of the dungeon. It wasn't much of a dungeon; it hadn't been used for years, and it had been cleaned and opened when they arrived in Asturia. Everyone acted as if nothing had ever happened; Hitomi was the only one smart enough to even consider a friend. Why Celena hadn't wanted to go see the green-eyed girl even she didn't know, but she had refused all invitations of any kind since Dilandau had been imprisoned.

The white-haired woman lifted her head, examining the man with her pale blue eyes. He sat on the floor, back leaning against the bars, one hand propped on his cocked knee. His diadem had been removed, his jacket taken, his boots burned, and his gloves thrown away. He sat in a white overshirt and a pair of loose pants, which pooled around his bare feet. His hair was a mess, scattered around his face.

When Celena had first arrived, Dilandau had refused to speak to her, despite the fact she hadn't said a word to him anyway. The guards had at least encouraged him to say hello, since she was taking time out of her "busy schedule as a lady of the court" to see him. But when Celena had taken up permanent (beside bathing in her own room) residence in a chair just outside of his cell, he had tried to speak to her.

"Why are you here, Celena?" he had asked. She merely looked up from her diary and shrugged.

Another time: "Aren't you going to go sleep?" Celena responded with a yawn and promptly dozed off in her chair.

Only days before: "Celena, I'm.. There's nothing you can do. Just go." No response.

Pushing the dinner aside, Celena leaned against the table a guard had pulled down for her. Every day since she had been there, she had run every event of the last month in her head, over and over again. And every time, Dilandau - in a way - would profess his love for her, and Van would die. It was all some kind of sick joke. She was sure of it.

"Celena, you have to stop this," Dilandau said suddenly. "It's not healthy. I can't have you dying or something down here." Celena looked up, regarding him with cool, blue eyes.

She chuckled. "I won't do any such thing. I'll leave as soon as I get over you," she replied calmly. Dilandau blinked rapidly before jumping to his feet. Holding the bars in his hands, he watched her.

"What do you mean, get over me?" he asked, his voice wavering between coldness and curiosity. Celena shrugged.

"It's hard to give up someone you love," she replied, before taking out her diary and quill. Dilandau massaged his dropped jaw, putting it back in place.

"Love, Celena?" he asked, his voice quivering. Celena raised her eyes, nodding, as if it were no big matter at all.

"Of course. Why else would I be here?" she countered. Dilandau blinked incredulously.

"I had no idea," he replied truthfully. Celena shrugged. "I'm sorry, Celena."

She stood up suddenly, closing her diary. Setting it carefully on the table, she walked across the dimly lit jail towards the bars behind which Dilandau stood. He had his face pressed between two bars, watching her intently.

Placing a light kiss on his cheek, she waved. "I'm going to get you out of here," Celena announced, waving lightly as she walked towards the stairs. "Just wait for me."

Dilandau slumped to the ground, rubbing the spot on his cheek where he could still feel her lips against his skin. A wide, childish grin crossed his face, and he laughed, lying back on the floor of his cell. "Well, I'll be darned," he chuckled.

***

I walked alone. Fanelia looked no worse for the wear in Van's absence; I trembled slightly when I thought of him. Intent on keeping my mind clear, I walked down the path towards the forest.

Van held me now sitting in front of him in the saddle. One hand lay loosely on the horse's reins, the other wrapped possessively around my waist. His chin leaned against my head; I could only assume that he was tired at such a late hour. The horse plodded at a constant, boring speed, the sound of its hooves connecting with the ground becoming louder as we progressed onto the cobblestone streets of the Fanelian capital.

I stopped, looking at the small clearing where I had seen Van upon my return. I brushed my hair out of my face with one hand, looking at the pendant around my neck.

I walked into the forest, the midday sun still shining on my back. I was leaving Gaea again, but this time, with even less hope then when I had arrived. The leaves on the trees rustled in a weak breeze, their vibrant green colors lighting up in the surreal light all around me.

Escaflowne. It was covered in vines, the armor turned a dark green from moss and age. I walked closer, brushing some foliage off the leg. I ran one hand down the smooth surface, sighing as I raised my gaze.

Taking a few steps back, I lifted the pendant into my hand. "I want to go home," I said quietly, carefully addressing it.

The pendant didn't move. It didn't change color, and it didn't become any heavier or lighter.

"I want to go home," I said louder, focusing my thought on my one purpose. "I want to go home!" I cried again, upon no response.

***

Allen looked up as he heard the door to his temporary bedroom open. He knew it couldn't have been Jajuka, for the beast man had left on a walk some time before. Jajuka had opted to stay in Palas with Celena, but had grown tired of waiting for her to come out of the dungeon and had agreed to a change of scenery.

Allen let out a gasp of surprise as a very sullen-looking Hitomi walked in. She walked across the room and sat down on his bed, across from where the knight sat at his desk.

"I tried everything," she said quietly. "I can't go back. It's all.. it's all gone."

Allen sighed, moving his chair to sit across from her. Taking her hands lightly in his, the knight watched as Hitomi's head fell to her chest.

And she cried. She cried for the first time since Van's death; and it felt so good. Hitomi didn't object one bit as Allen lightly hugged her, letting her sob against his less-than-formal attire. He patted her back lightly, stroking her hair with his other hand.

"I can't go home," Hitomi sniffled, drawing back slightly. Her bright, green eyes glistened with tears, and her brown hair was in a tussle around her face. Allen lightly stroked her cheek, earning himself a decent blush.

"It won't be so bad," he tried to assure her. "You have us. Merle, Gaddess, Millerna, Dryden, even Celena and I. You don't have to worry." Hitomi looked away, head bowed.

"Maybe someday I'll be able to go back," she mumbled to herself. Allen raised one hand, lightly cupping her chin and turning her head to face him.

"Remember all those years ago, when I asked you to marry me?" he asked quietly. Hitomi nodded slowly. "I know it's so... soon, but my offer still stands. You'll need someone to protect you," Allen added.

Hitomi raised her eyes, watching him carefully. Long, blonde hair, big blue eyes, a kind face... no, it wouldn't be so bad. She was very aware of the women's situation on Gaea; they were not granted nearly as much liberty as on Earth. Marrying would be her only way to support herself.

Hitomi sunk back against the bed, regarding her hands. Van was dead. She had told herself that she would marry Van, no matter what.

But that was no longer an option. She had been sulking for two weeks, and now had no way of getting home. Besides, Allen would treat her well. She knew that deep down, the knight really only really loved his sister.

Sighing in masked defeat, Hitomi looked up. "I'll marry you," she said.