Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Identity ❯ Times of Joy and Laughter ( Chapter 1 )

Hey! Chapter 1 is actually up! It took a little while to get up, which all the chapters might be as well. I tend to do character descriptions, first drafts, and a more rough draft of chapters. Heck, I even do character sketches. -_-; This is a AU fanfiction, so I've messed with the characters. :p I'm trying to keep them somewhat like the series, however… ^_^; I mean, AU doesn't mean OOC…… So, yeah, have fun and I hope that you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Yeah, it'd be nice to own Escaflowne, however I don't have that honor. This is only a fanfic by a challenged writer. T_T

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~

15 years later . . . . . . . .

In a little town on the outskirts of the capital of Fried another day was slowly beginning. Slowly the sun peaked its head up above the horizon, its hands stretching across the land slowly waking up its little creatures. Once reaching the small town, the hands crept through the streets, silently, trying to allow its children a few more minutes of rest. Reaching through a crack in the window, sunlight slowly poured onto the figure of a young girl.

"Mmpph, already…" mumbled the girl turning her pale face away from the sunlight, snuggling closer to her cousin. She had only got to bed a few hours before, the town's annual festival had lasted into the late hours of the night.

The bedroom door creaked open slowly revealing a woman in the doorway. Glancing down at the girl, annoyance flickered across her eyes as she crept into the room. Careful to step over her friends' cousins, the girl finally made her way over to her friend. Groaning inwardly, she hunched down to her knees and leaned forward.

"The sun has appeared in the sky bringing forth another day, yet you still sleep," whispered the girl, a slight smile playing across her features.

"Tis not the sun, but rather the moon, now leave me alone," muttered the sleeping girl, turning away from her cousin and facing the other girl. A smile slowly started across her face, however her eyes remained closed.

"Hitomi you lazy person, you promised to do a tarot card reading for me at dawn!" growled the girl through gritted teeth, playing with the ends of her red hair.

"Did I, Yukari? Perhaps you think of another Hitomi," chuckled the sandy blond youth, slowly opening her laughing green eyes and turning towards her friend.

"Very funny, you promised!" whined Yukari, standing up and turning her back to Hitomi. Sighing, Hitomi threw the covers off her and made her way to the chair where her clothes laid messily.

"Sorry, last night was a late night," muttered Hitomi, pulling her shirt over her head.

"Still, you said you would do it earlier so that I could give my reply early," whispered Yukari sharply, glancing towards Hitomi's sleeping cousin.

"I said that I'd do it early so that I can get home early, they'll notice if I am not around for morning chores," laughed Hitomi as she finished tying the strings of her pants around herself.

Frustrated, Yukari turned around to face her friend. "Whatever, can we please hurry and get out of here?" she quietly begged.

Grabbing her boots and cards Hitomi motioned with her head that she was ready and proceeded to sneak out of the room. Yukari followed closely behind, trying to follow where Hitomi stepped to prevent the wood from creaking.

Once at the bottom of the stairs sounds of the morning cooking wafted towards them. Carefully, the girls made their way out into the streets.

"I do not see what you enjoy about sneaking around," breathed Yukari, grabbing hold of her friends braid as they made their way to the forest by the city.

"You know perfectly well my parents would not allow me to leave the house, too many things to be done around the hotel," muttered Hitomi, wincing at the tug of her braid. "Why do you want me to do a tarot reading about this marriage proposal? I mean, we've known him since we were children."

"Well, I want to know if I'm ready," replied Yukari receiving a grunt in reply from Hitomi. "Oh quiet you! Your parents don't even talk about getting you married!"

"That's the way I like it," giggled Hitomi, running ahead, her scraggly braid flopping around on her back. Groaning, Yukari picked up the front of her skirts and jogged to try to catch up with her friend.

~*~~~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"The Lovers. This means that you are meant to be with him," said Hitomi, pulling the card from the deck.

"Meant to be…." Repeated Yukari, looking doubtfully at her friend.

"Don't worry, I'm sure that it'll be okay! You guys have your differences, but your differences will make your relationship stronger," smiled Hitomi, placing her hand on Yukari's. Smiling slightly, Yukari nodded for Hitomi to continue.

"And finally…" started Hitomi then stopped. Behind her she could have sworn she heard a twig snap. Yukari look towards the direction Hitomi gazed at, curiosity and fear flickering in her eyes.

"Hitomi~~~~!!" called a voice, anger and annoyance ringing in each syllable.

"Gulp," muttered Hitomi, gathering her cards up quickly. Yukari looked at her friend with a raised eyebrow, "It's my cousin, Noam."

"Ahhh," replied Yukari, helping Hitomi gather the cards. "What do you think the last card would have said?" she whispered quickly, grabbing Hitomi's hand before she could start sneaking back into town.

Smiling, her green eyes laughing, "Great luck, this marriage is a good thing." Patting her friend's shoulder, Hitomi disappeared into the bushes.

Noam was a year younger than her, giving Hitomi the feeling of superiority towards him. Juggling with the thoughts of either revealing herself and get scolded by her cousin, or sneaking home without him leaving him searching for her for another few hours. Hard choice chuckled Hitomi, sneaking past her cousin then breaking into a run once out of sight.

Running down the dirt street, winding throughout the different streets, Hitomi yelled greetings to different family friends. Many hung out their windows to greet the girl, wanting to talk with her about happenings at her families tavern, others grunting replies as they busied themselves with their daily tasks.

Her family owned the local tavern. She had lived in the town her whole life, and living in such an interesting place she became acquainted with foreign customs and people. Smiling at the structure of the tavern, its appearance of two house pushed together, Hitomi quickened her pace.

"I'm back!" panted Hitomi, pushing the door opening. Grabbing her side slightly, she glanced up through her bangs. No one in her family appeared to be around; perhaps she could sneak upstairs and quickly get through her chores as though she had been there the whole time…..

DUMP.

Falling over from the weight that suddenly pushed into her, Hitomi crashed into the ground with a deafening thud. Squirming around, she finally managed to free herself to find her little ten-year-old cousin glaring down upon her.

"Good morning, Aisha! Wonderful day, isn't it?" grinned Hitomi, trying to ignore the death stare her cousin was shooting at her.

"'Good morning' my butt! Hitomi! You were supposed to help me clean the room this morning!" shrieked Aisha, her gray eyes brimming with tears, "You know that I'm not strong enough to carry all the sheets myself!!"

Hitomi laughed helping herself up then ruffled Aisha's black hair, "I'm sorry, Yukari asked me to do a tarot reading for her this morning."

"No excuse," replied Aisha stoutly, turning around with her arms crossed across her chest. A crooked smile twitched at the corners of Hitomi's mouth.

"Oh beautiful Aisha, can you ever forgive me?" begged Hitomi, dramatically hugging her cousin who squealed in surprise. Aisha bit her lip trying to prevent a laugh from escaping her lips. Sensing this, Hitomi spun her cousin around then picked up the laundry her cousin had dropped upon her, "See why you are my favorite person in the whole world!"

Giggling, Aisha bent over and proceeded to help Hitomi pick up the laundry, smiling up at her older cousin. Her family had lived in the tavern since before she was born, Hitomi's father being Aisha's Mother's brother. Although her cousin could be a pain, always running off and avoiding chores, Aisha deeply loved Hitomi.

"Oh, where's Noam?" inquired Aisha, looking up at Hitomi as they carried the laundry outside to be washed. Hitomi simply smiled and proceeded to whistle, telling Aisha that Hitomi had conveniently left Noam out in the woods looking for her.

~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**

"Ahhhhhh, I'm tired," yawned Hitomi, sketching her arms up as Aisha and herself made their way back into the tavern. "I hate washing the sheets, it always takes so long."

"But on the bright side it's lunch time," grinned Aisha, rubbing her own aching arms slightly. Pushing the door open the sounds of dining lodgers hit their ears. Smiling, the two girls made their way into the kitchen.

"Smells great Mama, where shall we eat?" said Hitomi, reaching into the pot on the stove. A wooden spoon smacked her smartly across the knuckles.

"Hitomi, what have I told you about touching the food when it's in the pot?" groaned Thaddea, annoyed with her daughter's lack of etiquette. "Where were you this morning? Aisha had to gather the sheets all by herself."

"Sorry, Yukari asked me to do something for her," Hitomi said, reaching quickly into the pot and grabbing a piece of elk meat. Smiling at her Mom, she quickly got away from the stove before her Mom could get her once more with the spoon. "Where's Papa?"

Covering her mouth to prevent herself from coughing on the food, Thaddea replied, "Went out to cut some more wood."

"Mama? Are you okay?" Hitomi asked, putting her hand upon her Mother's shoulder.

"I think that it is only a cold, do not worry," smiled Thaddea then pointed to two plates at the end of the table, "Those are for you and Aisha, go eat outside since it is such a nice day."

"Are you sure you don't want me to do the work? I can cook, somewhat, okay," Hitomi said trailing off, her green eyes looking at the ceiling innocently.

"I fear you eating all the food before the guests have a chance to eat it! That and I do not want perfectly good food burned. Now hurry and eat your lunch, there is more work you need to do," teased Thaddea, pushing her daughter out the door. Leaning in the doorway she watched at Aisha quickly caught up to her daughter carrying the two lunches. A sad smile slowly crossed Thaddea's face before she went back to the kitchen.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Groaning slightly, Hitomi switched hands as she leaned forward, staring into the fire. Today's work was done and she was waiting up for her father to return. A few guests chatted in the background, laughing at each others jokes and enjoying each others company. Huffing, Hitomi closed her eyes leaning farther forward, her elbows pushing harder against her knees.

"That's not a very lady-like position, young lady."

Smiling, Hitomi turned around and opened her eyes to find her father smiling down at her, cuddling a few logs that he had carried in. Grabbing some of the logs Hitomi replied, "Since when have I been a young lady?"

Laughing, her Father dropped the logs by the fire, "Cute. I heard that you wandered off with Yukari this morning."

"Yes, I am sorry that I did not inform you of my where-abouts," Hitomi replied stiffly, lifting her nose in the air, puffing her chest up.

"It's so hard to remain mad at you, child," chuckled her Father, ruffling up her hair slightly, "Next time remain here in the tavern, Yukari can visit you here."

"Yes Papa," sighed Hitomi, sitting down at the table. Cocking his head slightly, Fadil pulled out the chair across from her. Turning it around, he sat down, leaning his scruffy chin against the back of his left hand.

"Also, next time, don't leave your cousin Noam out there looking for you. I heard that he didn't return home till after lunch," grinned Fadil running his right hand through his chin length black hair. Hitomi snorted then laughed.

Across the room two figures watched the child and father. The two people were dressed in travelers' clothes, blending them with the rest of the crowd in the tavern. A look of annoyance flickered across the young man's face as her turned to his companion.

"Are you sure that you want that girl to be helping us, Princess? I've been watching her today and she doesn't seem like the type to help with this type of mission," grumbled the youth, his black hair flicking down across his eye.

"Of course I am sure," replied the woman, glaring at the youth who dared question her decision. Groaning slightly, the youth stood up and stretched slightly. He had been traveling with this Princess for the past week and found her stubborn and air-headed, a quality which he disliked in all the Princesses he'd ever met.

"I'm going to bed," he sighed, "Goodnight, Princess Millerna."

"Goodnight, King of Fanelia," hissed the woman so only the youth could hear. Once out of hearing distance the woman sobered up, "I've finally found ' the girl'…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hitomi, Hitomi, wake up!!!" whispered a voice urgently in the dark. Slowly Hitomi opened her eyes, disoriented and annoyed at being awoken. It was still dark, why would someone be waking her up? Her eyes focused on the form of her Aunt, Davina.

"What's wrong, Aunt Davina?" asked Hitomi groggily, sleep still holding her within its grips.

"Hurry Hitomi, you must wake up and fetch the healer, your Mother is really sick," her Aunt said in an urgent whisper, trying to not awaken her own daughter.

"What!?" gasped Hitomi, snapping awake.

"She has a fever, hurry!" her Aunt whispered shakily, then shoved the lamp into Hitomi's hands, "You must hurry!"

Shakily, Hitomi got up and quickly ran down the stairs, ignoring the noise she was making. A lump of fear formed in her chest, trying to make her break down and cry. No, she scolded herself, it's going to be nothing, only a cold like she said. Her nightdress tripped her up, slowly her down slightly, making her legs strain in the extra effort.

Winding through the streets, she shone the light ahead of her to try and light the path. Although she was fifteen years of age, she hated to admit to herself that she was sometimes still afraid of the dark. Seeing nothing, the world was too still in darkness, almost as if everything were dead.

Dead, the word caught in her throat. 'No, I must not think of something like that,' Hitomi mentally scolded herself as she arrived at the village healer's house.

"Hello!? Please, someone help me!" yelled Hitomi, smacking her fist against the door, trying to make enough noise to wake someone up. A faint rustling suddenly caught in her ears as she heard the door open and a mousy woman peak her head out.

"What do you want?" she asked, annoyed.

"I need the healer, my mother is sick," cried Hitomi, her hands and voice shaking slightly. The woman regarded Hitomi a moment before going back into the house to retrieve the master of the house.

A few minutes later, a man finally emerged, his clothes obviously thrown on quickly, "Hurry child, we've got to get to your mother quickly." With that, he grabbed the lamp from Hitomi's shaking hands and proceeded to lead the way quickly back to the tavern. Following numbly behind, Hitomi wondered and hoped that the healer would be able to help her mother.

Once they arrived back a few of the boarders peeked their heads out curiously, the noise Hitomi had caused earlier had awoken them, and their curiosity forcing them to investigate the new noises.

Hitomi's Aunt stood at the end of the hall, her face brightened upon seeing the healer had arrived. The healer quickly walked down the hall, leaving Hitomi alone once more with her fears.

Knees buckling, Hitomi fells down at the top of the stairs, exhausted. A warm hand touched her shoulder, causing her to jerk slightly. Her Father looked down at her, a brave smile on his face, "It'll be okay Hitomi, don't worry."

~*~*~*~*~*~**~**~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~