Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Heart of the Dragon ❯ The Most Unexpected Thing ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Nine: The Most Unexpected Thing

Seibu dragged her crooked leg across the hard, rocky ground. She was so close, she could almost feel the presence....

It was then that she saw him. Well, rather her. She was sitting underneath a huge oak tree all by herself. She was tearing hunks of grass out of the ground and shredding it to pieces before she set it next to her in a fast-growing pile.

She picked up her broken leg and enjoyed the pain of walking on it over to Celena. She studied her, finding things that resembled the picture of Dilandau she had.

Celena watched the strange, beautiful woman walk over to her. Odd, but she felt something familiar. She couldn't place the feeling though. She pulled out another good-sized bit of grass and ripped it to shreds. She wished her brother was here, she was in the mood for a sword fight.

Seibu sat down next to slightly older girl. Celena didn't seem to notice that she was a stranger and could possibly hurt her, so she just said, "Hello, Celena." She arranged her broken leg into a better position, smirking at what she was about to do.

"Hi."

She glanced around, making sure that no one was around. She pulled out a small vial filled with a potion she herself had made. It had taken many sacrifices to make this stuff, but it was well worth it. It was a black, thick liquid that resembled oil, but it had no taste. "Will you drink this for me?"

Celena took it out of Seibu's hands and asked, "What is it?" as she studied it suspiciously. Seibu couldn't believe the trusting nature of the girl, but she felt no remorse. She was happy that Allen, Van's pathetic blonde-haired best friend, had never taught Celena that she should stay away from strangers. Well, she was confined mostly to the house as far as she knew, so there wasn't really any need as far as Allen more than likely knew. She laughed to herself as she thought a minute, saying, It's a special kind of liquid that makes you really strong. Allen told me to give it to you."

Celena sniffed it and shrugged, pouring it into her mouth without hesitation. A few seconds later her eyes squeezed shut and she grabbed her throat, gagging and gasping for breath desperately. The vial fell unheeded to the ground, Celena along with it as Seibu stood, a sinister smile forming on her mouth. It had taken so long, but it was finally happening!!

Celena's long hair covered her face as she thrashed around on the ground, and Seibu couldn't see what horrifying transformation she was going through. A few minutes went by, Celena choking and clawing at the ground in agony, slamming herself into the dirt as if it would help take the pain away. Painful cries filled the air as she begged for it to stop, and then all at once, she stopped.

Seibu watched delighted as Celena stood, loving the evil laugh that came from her a few moments later. She turned around slowly, energized. She whipped the long hair out of her eyes.

Seibu stared at Dilandau, a sinister smile forming from her lips.

Hitomi jerked up in bed, Van's arms falling limply away from her. An appalling vision flashed before her eyes as she watched Celena change into Dilandau. Her hands fisted at her side when she saw all of the skin twisting and forming into the more mature features of Dilandau. She saw Seibu hand him a long knife for him to cut off his beautiful long hair and his dress. The vision stopped before she saw him completely naked.

Van gaped at her and listened to the low keening noise coming from her throat. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her hard.

She turned stunned eyes to his face and she pulled away from him, running into Allen's room. "Dilandau," she whispered and Allen ripped the bed practically apart just to get to her. He grabbed a hold of her shoulders just like Van and shook her hard. "What did you say? What about Dilandau?! What's going on with my sister?!"

"Seibu changed her into Dilandau! What do we do?!"

Allen's hands dropped to his sides and he fell to the floor on his knees. Not this. Anything but this....

What did he have to do before he found actual happiness? Why did it seem like everything was directed towards him and his life? He felt a tear slip down his cheek and he wiped it away, frustrated. He hadn't cried for a very long time. He wasn't about to start.

Van came into the room, wondering what was going on. He had heard the name Dilandau mentioned and had jumped off the bed and ran into Allen's room. He saw him wipe something away from his face and knew that something bad had happened.

Hitomi looked at him and he took her into his arms, seeing the depressed look on her face. "We have to go back before Dilandau and Seibu destroy Gaea."

Van picked up Allen and he straightened, getting a hold of himself. He nodded and Amano came over next to them saying, "What about me and Yukari? She's still in the hospital."

"How is she?" Hitomi asked and Van brought her over to the bed to sit down.

"She's doing alright. The doctors can't believe that she had still been living. They had to stick some tubes into her lungs and drain all the liquid out. They still haven't identified it. They have no idea what it is."

"Van, is it ok if I see her one last time before we go back to Gaea? I have to see her at least once before we leave."

Van bit his lip, fighting over Gaea's future and Hitomi. He nodded none too enthusiastically.

She hugged him and jumped up, running into her room and grabbing her duffel bag. She came back in with Amano's keys and ushered them out of the room.

Amano asked for his keys but Hitomi refused him, saying he was a crazy driver and shouldn't even be allowed to drive. Amano frowned at her but gave up, not wanting to argue. They got there fast considering it was only a few miles away. The visiting hours had just started and they all went into Yukari's room.

Hitomi walked in first and took hold of Yukari's cold hand. She looked like she was dead, as if all of the blood had been drained out of her body. She smiled at her, knowing she was going to be alright. She wished that her eyes would open just for a minute so she could say goodbye to her best friend for more than likely the last time ever. She felt tears come to her eyes and let them fall down.

Van, Amano, and Allen stayed back and let Hitomi visit her friend. Her hand gripped Yukari's as if it was a lifeline. Van wished that he could take the pain away from her never being able to see her friend again, but he couldn't do anything about it. He knew she was going to have a hard, long time getting over it. She would never see her family, her friends, and Earth again. Everything that her life had revolved around since she was born. The only comfort she would have would be him. He would try his hardest to make her forget.

Hitomi watched her friend's eyes open and felt intense relief. Yukari didn't at fist acknowledge it was Hitomi holding her hand in a death grip, but when she did, she smiled. She saw the tear streaks on her face and the ones ready to fall over. "What wrong?" she asked in a hoarse, quiet voice.

"I'm trying to say goodbye, but I can't."

Yukari closed her eyes. She felt her stomach knot up and a lump form in her throat. She didn't normally cry, but she felt them coming on. Considering that Hitomi was the one upset, it was her job to make her feel better about this. She swallowed the lump and her stomach quieted.

"Don't worry, Hitomi. We'll see each other again."

Hitomi shook her head and rested her head in her hands. She felt someone put an arm around her and kiss her cheek. She didn't feel the familiar rampaging feelings as she did with Van and guessed it was Amano or Allen. She knew it was Amano when he said, "Don't worry, Hitomi. Just like Yukari said, we will see each other again. No big deal. Now give Yukari and me a hug goodbye and get your butt out of here. You need to go back to Gaea and Fanelia and take the responsibilities you have for being a queen. Every moment you spend here is a minute wasted for you being back on Gaea and saving it."

Hitomi wiped her girlish tears away and smiled grimly. She leaned over and squeezed Yukari hard, not wanting to leave her best friend. Yukari pushed her away and into Amano's waiting arms. She gave him a brief hug and kissed his cheek. She let him go and walked out of the room, not looking back. Allen and Van said their good-bye's to them quickly. Allen slapped Amano on the back and shook his hand, hopping that he had a great life and that possibly in the future he would see him again. Both Van and him kissed Yukari's hand and left, closing the door quietly.

Hitomi ran out to the car, pent-up emotion from saying goodbye to her friend bursting forth. She saw a large pile of rags lying next to the car and she dried off her face. She nudged it with her foot and it moved. She jumped and she heard Van and Allen come up behind her.

"Van, I think this is a person."

Van gave her a puzzled looked and he touched it, jumping just like Hitomi did when it moved. It stood up and toppled over into his arms. He pushed back some of the rags and gasped.

"Mother?"