Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Following Jupiter ❯ Save tonight ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 13

Save Tonight

Go on and close the curtains

All we need is candlelight

You and me and a bottle of wine

Going to hold you tonight

We know I'm going away

How I wish.………wish it weren't so

Take this wine & drink with me

Let's delay our misery

*****

Van Fanel sat on a royal blue armchair holding a glass of half drank wine; he was staring at the mantle above the fireplace at a very significant piece of jewelry that was perched upon a stand under a glass case.

`I don't see why you had to be so bitter towards her Allen,' Van commented taking a small sip from his goblet of wine. Allen stared wide-eyed for a moment before regaining his posture he whispered, `I thought I told you Van, she's not here because she just so happened to escape the grasp of Dilandau, she's here for something. For this pendant no doubt, she wants to keep my sister as Dilandau, God Damnit.'

`How can she be?' Van asked with a slight hush. `She's,'

`Beautiful? Yes. She is a rose isn't she?' Van looked at Allen in slight shock. `But Van, all roses have thrones and they will prick you if you are not careful'

`She's flawless, and innocent. Have you looked at her? You haven't seen her like I have. And yes, she's beautiful, but I'm no womanizer like yourself, Allen.'

`I am no womanizer Van, and your right, neither are you. Just keep a good eye on her Van, she seems to show some interest in you.'

`I- don't know what to do with it'

`………'

`Allen?'

`It's up to you……… you choose to hold this burden and until YOU come up with some way of using it or getting rid of it, you're on your own' Allen said. `I don't want to take hold of it, because I would use it to gain knowledge and power. But I will guide you.'

`That's helpful' Van replied scornfully.

Allen sighed, `It's better than facing it all alone isn't it?'

`I have a feeling that she knows more than she lets on about Dilandau, about herself and this pendant. Allen, I'm confused. I wish Hitomi was here.'

`Isn't that a bit of a selfish wish Van?'

`Selfish? How so?'

`Hitomi is happily living a life on the mystic moon, if suddenly your wish is heard………'

`That won't happen Allen,' Van chuckled and finished off the last of the wine in the bottom of his goblet.

`I could destroy him now this would all be over. No chance of him ever coming back.'

`Van, listen to me,' Allen said, turning his head to look Van square in the face.

`If you kill Dilandau, you kill Celena, and I will kill you if you do that. Celena is all I have left and you are not going got take her away from me.'

`Allen,' Van grew a little pale from what he had said to him. Allen's eyes were so stern and cold. Van swallowed the growing lump in his throat before he rose. `I wouldn't kill Celena,' He trailed off and walked out of the room.

`Glad we agree' Allen whispered in to the empty room where only the crackling of the fire could be heard.

*****

Leaunna lay on the forest floor panting, she had collapsed for only a few seconds but it seemed like minuets, and could hear the stamped of hungry creatures still craving her. She had used her stealth to hide for a while but one had found her and her arm got cut, it was stinging for the moment, but still, it had healed a little.

`Bastards!' she hissed. `Their not perceived to be! I have no weapon! Why did they not attack?' she thought.

`WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME?!?!?!' she screamed at the hurriedly approaching dragon. It opened its mouth leaving long trails of saliva on the ground. The other three were nowhere to be found. The dragon's reply was a blast of fire. Leaunna tried dodging it but it still caught the left side of he dress. She lifted her head and he eyes widened when she noticed the smell of burning cloths. She hastily looked around and grabbed greedily at the mud puddle in front of her and tossed a generous amount of the fire, dousing it completely.

The dragon hissed at her, its tongue flicking out and his tail ready for predatory attack. Leaunna stood up, her fists balled.

`If it's a fight you want you pathetic lizard! THEN I'LL GIVE YOU FIGHT!' She ran towards the dragon in mid-stride she transformed herself into the demon, slicing the dragon from the chest up to the neck. Blood spurted from its chest and onto her face and clothing as she landing with a thud on the ground. The dragon gave one final growl before collapsing on the ground, blood poring from its slightly opened mouth and wound.

Panting, Leaunna hit the ground. She growled a bit and she retracted her claws so-to-speak. She heard another twig snap and she jolted up and looked around sharply. It slowly reviled itself from behind the dragon caucus.

`Dilandau?!'

*****

`Hm?' Said Van peaking out the window, `The rain's dying down'

`That's a relief, this place gets soooooooo stuffy sometimes' Merle pouted, folding her arms over her chest and falling backwards on to an empty bed.

`I wonder where Leaunna went, I told her she could look around the castle, but that must have been almost four hours ago. Did you see her?'

`ME!?' Merle shouted pointing inwards to herself. `Now WHY would I know where she went?' Merle said innocently. Van looked at her questioningly but sternly.

`Well, if you mean if I SAW her GO somewhere… that's different! She left the castle about three hours ago………I saw her go around back.'

`You let her LEAVE? You know the forest can be dangerous Merle.' Van asked her. Merle was perched on the windowsill on the far wall of the room they were in, snobbishly licking her front right paw.

`I'll be right back' he said grabbing his sword. Merle stopping in mid-lick and jumped off the sill and directed herself right at Van.

`Nooooooooo' she wailed. `You can't it's dangerous! You could get eaten!'

`Merle' he chuckled lightly. `I can take care of myself. Leaunna isn't even form this world she might already be injured.'

`Can I come with you then?'

Van sighed. Putting his hands on the younger girls shoulders he said, `No, I couldn't stand if you got hurt Merle, stay here and keep and eye out for us' Merle smiled and licked Van's cheek. `Okay Lord Van' she squealed.

*****

`Dilandau?' Leaunna said stepping to the side for a better look at the man with the sword unsheathed. `What are……… are you doing here?' she managed to sputter out.

`Leaunna, have you got the pendant.'

She looked down towards the ground. `No, but I will soon.' Dilandau walked over to her, `When you do,' he said sheathing his sword and placing his hands on her hips, `I want you to come back here and walk straight in that direction,' He took his hand off her waist to point and then quickly replaced it. `By the waterfall, I'll go every night……… at this time'

`Why are you here?'

`I was going to tell you this. It just happens you were in the forest. Why were-'

The faint calling of a name could be heard in the forest. Leaunna's eyes widened. `Leave! It's Van! I'll go as soon as I get it' she kissed him quickly and then turned and ran to where the voice came from. She looked over her shoulder and Dilandau was nowhere to be found.

`Eh, Van? Van is that you?'

`Leaunna? Are you all right?'

`I- I'm fine' She collapsed to give Dilandau more time. Van caught her before she hit the ground. She looked up only to have her eyes, unwilling locked into those dark, brown orbs swirling with emotion. Leaunna let out a shaky breath as she felt herself being pulled up more into a sitting position. She tried to dislodge her gaze at he but Everytime she did, it would end up connecting straight away again.

`Van' she whispered.

`What were you doing out here all alone?' he asked in the same hushed voice.

`I- I needed to clear my mind' she said looking back down to the forest floor for the longest time yet.

`What happened? Why- are you hurt'

`I'm not' she urged. Van kneeled fully down beside her, still holding her protectively. `I'm fine, I just fell, a few times'

`A few too many… everything is torn Leaunna, what happened?'

`Please?' She shut her eyes, tears prickling the corners. She didn't want anyone else knowing that she was beast. She didn't like it herself.

Her eyes snapped open when she felt pressure around her mouth. She saw Van, Van was……… kissing her. She didn't know if she wanted this, or if she didn't. The kiss was short and sweet, but Van got his point across, she didn't have to tell him, but if she needed to talk, he would always be there.

`Van, hormones.' She breathed. Van was slightly taken a back and took this as an insult.

`I'm sorry.' He stood up while helping her up.

`No, I didn't mean anything by it Van, it was just so sudden' she smiled.

`I guess, Everytime I'm too proud or I-' Van grimaced.

`Me too! Too dumb to notice that something like this, is real.' she finished for him looking back into those brown eyes.

`Want to go back, you look cold.' Leaunna's nod was enough.

*****

Leaunna sat in a well-furnished room. There were plum colored drapes, bed covers, sheets and small carpets. Beside the canopy bed was sat a nice table pleasantly set up with a candle and doily. There was also a small desk in the corner with two brightly burning candles. Leaunna was sitting in the chair at the desk when Van walked in holding two cups of tea. He set them down in front of her and walked over to the window. His unfathomable dark brown eyes and raven black hair captured the light slightly from the two moons.

`You know, you can sit on the bed if you want.' He told Leaunna breaking the silence.

`I'm fine.' She answered coolly.

`You don't have to be afraid you know.' He walked back over to her. He rested his hands on her shoulders and she shuddered but Van never removed his hands from them.

`Please,' she begged, her heart racing; this wasn't part of her plan; Van wasn't part of the plan. Van refused to give up. To lose someone close to him again, he couldn't handle it. He moved his hands over to the crevice in her neck and she stood up refusing to feel anything.

`You know, I'm not going to hurt you.' He said calmly.

`I will,' she said just above a whisper, `end up hurting you, myself………I always do.' Van advanced towards her with concern in his chocolate orbs, arms out stretched once more to caress her and hold her close.

`Van I-'

`Shhhh………you wont hurt me……… I promise. Love me. I lost Hitomi because I didn't listen to my feelings until the last minuet.'

`I don't know you………how can I love you? I'm sure Hitomi would have stayed here with you……… she just missed her family.'

Van folded his arms comfortably across his chest and looked Leaunna directly in the eyes.

`I'm sorry Van. I don't know you.' She whispered again.

`I don't believe that' he stated.

`Why not?' she asked, rather offended.

`Get to know me better then……… I'll get to know you better if it makes you feel any better'

`Why are you pushing this anyway?' she questioned him.

`Because………I want to let you know that I KNOW I love you. I'm not going to let you go like I did Hitomi.'

He moved towards the desk and grabbed the extra blanket he brought in.

`C'mon, you must be sick. You were out there for hours in the rain with nothing but a stupid dress on.' Wrapping her up in the blanket he grabbed her hand, she unconsciously grabbed back, and led her to the bed. Van smiled inwardly and sat down beside her on the bed.

`Alright,' he put his arm around her shoulders and rubbed them slightly. `Would you like to get to know each other more?' She nodded. `Okay, you start.'

*****

`So,' pondered Allen, who was sitting alone in a parlor. `She IS helping him hmm? This is……… interesting indeed. I will be waiting for her. If I want my Celena back,' He hung his head frowning, `I'll have to stop her……… somehow…'

*****

`So, Hitomi wrote a book? Quite fascinating I suppose. I guess she really made something of herself. That could be dangerous can it not?' Van asked and Leaunna shrugged.

They were both lying on the bed in a tangled mess. Their legs were entwined and their fingers on her right and his right were laced. She had her head on his slowly raising chest and her left hand over her stomach. He was lying on the pillow and had his right arm around her, his left hand was draping over the side of the bed playing with a stray thread on the sheet.

`I don't know, you're the one that lives here.' It had almost been two hours since they had started talking about how she got there and what she had done when she was in Dilandau's captive. Only leaving out some minor details.

`So, I'm sure you know all about me then right?' he stated with a smile. She removed her head and sat up the best she could without falling over because of the lack of balance she didn't have in her legs. He sat up with her and put his arms around her waist. She didn't know what to do, or what to say for that matter so in defeat she leaned into him. He smiled inwardly and rested his head on her shoulder.

`You know, not once have I heard you say, "You're beautiful"'

`Well, aren't you confident.'

`Hey!'

`Calm down.' He soothed, holding her tighter. `I didn't think I need to……… it's not like that matters to me anyway……… well maybe a little.'

`Oh? Shallow are we?'

`What? Shallow?'

Leaunna giggled, `Show is a term for guys and I guess girls too, who will only date beautiful people who are in perfect shape and stuff, despite their personality half the time.' She told Van.

`Oh……… well, I'm not shallow then.' He repeated, and extracted another giggle from her and smiled.

`Stay with me and don't ever leave.' He said, burying his face into her shoulder.

`Van?' She held her breath for a minute and then carried on, `Listen. I'm in love with someone else, but I know that I have some kind of feelings for you too……… it's just that I don't want to be unfaithful to him……… I'm very confused.' She admitted.

Van removed his head. `I'm sorry, this is all my fault.'

`No, no. I've always felt something for you, before I even met you. I'd read Hitomi's book and wish, God I wished I could meet you someday and have you hold me in your arms……… and then I met someone else and my dreams……… just didn't fit anymore.'

`I know what you mean; I feel the same way about you and Hitomi.' He unraveled himself from her and stood up. `I'm sorry. I didn't mean to confuse you.'

`Van,' she appeased.

`I'm sorry.' He said once again and then left.

`Van………' The door shut and she sat on the bed feeling empty.