Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Return to the Mystic Moon ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Wow it has been a long, long time since I last updated this story. I really apologize. My life has been completely crazy for the last six months or so and with everything changing I've not had a lot of time to write. My laptop is still screwy and it isn't holding a charge so that isn't helping the writing situation. Here's the newest, and longest I might add, chapter of Return to the Mystic Moon. It still isn't very long but longer than the others. Please enjoy and feel free to leave reviews. Thank you!

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne. There are like three different authors out there who actually do so I'm not about to jump in the middle of that mess...

 

 

“I have to wear that?”

 

“Yes Milady,” the seamstress replied exasperatedly. It was the fourth time the future queen had asked the same question and it was obvious the other woman's nerves were beginning to fray very quickly. “It's simply to help the dress keep the proper shape. You're much too thin for it to make much difference to your shape, Milady.” Hitomi didn't appreciate the woman's not so subtle reference to her somewhat smaller chest. So she wasn't as busty as most Fanalian women. That wasn't her fault! They wanted to shove her into a corset in hopes of correcting that for her. Apparently it worked better than a wonder bra… go figure. Either way, Hitomi was not all that thrilled with the idea. The thing looked uncomfortable and as though it would make it very hard to breathe. “You won't have to wear it for long, just a few hours, I promise,” the seamstress tried in a much more soothing manner. Finally Hitomi relented and allowed the woman to slide the clothing over her head and tie it closed. It wasn't as tight as she'd been expecting and she actually could breathe. And she grudgingly had to admit that it did wonders for her figure. “You'll have plenty of room to grow into it once an heir or two is born,” the woman chuckled, patting Hitomi jovially on the back. The young woman froze and turned to look at the other who was now looking thoughtfully at the dresses she had made, trying to decide which one to work on first.

 

Needless to say Hitomi was speechless. Heirs? As in children? Granted she'd planned that she and Van would someday have a family… she just hadn't anticipated it to be expected of them so soon. She and Van hadn't even gotten to the point where intimacy of that caliber was a possibility. The wedding was in a couple days and they were strictly forbidden from seeing one another alone until the wedding night. Which was another thing Hitomi was terrified to even think about. She was excited, obviously, but she was also afraid that anything and everything would go wrong. What if she said something wrong or did something embarrassing? Van could be very understanding but she felt she'd never live it down if she screwed it all up!

 

Once her session with the seamstress was over, Hitomi made her way through the palace until she found her room once more. She was getting better at finding it with practice though now she realized she would have to get used to finding Van's room since the two of them would be sharing the royal suite once they were married. “Just one more thing to worry about,” she muttered to herself as she flopped on the wide bed. She wanted a nap... desperately. But given the nature of the palace's inhabitants and the fact that she was getting married in a few days meant she rarely had a moment to herself that wasn't alloted for sleeping.

 

A knock rang out in the hollow sounding room and Hitomi jumped at the sound. “Come in,” she called tiredly, pulling herself into a sitting position so she at least looked alert. A smile split her face when none other than her fiancé walked in, dressed in his normal clothing. “Van!” she laughed, standing to hug him when he opened his arms for her and smiled slightly. “I didn't think I'd get to see you today.”

 

Van nuzzled into Hitomi's hair for a moment, simply taking her in with all his faculties. “I wasn't sure you would either. Apparently I'm much faster at organizing a royal wedding than I thought,” he replied with a grin. Hitomi giggled. She couldn't imagine her future husband arranging all the floral plans or the food but he was more amazing than even she knew. “I thought we could at least have lunch together. I heard you had to be with Maribelle all morning. She's a tough lady.”

 

Hitomi smiled nervously as Van took her hand to place on the crook of his elbow, leading her out of the room and down the long hall to the small informal dining room she knew Van tried to eat in as much as possible. It was one of his favorite rooms in the palace and it was quickly becoming one of hers as well. The tall doors opened into a smallish room, floor to ceiling windows on the far side. A fireplace adorned one wall and a tall bookshelf the other. An intimate table set for two sat in the middle of the room, a chaise lounge on either side. Van helped Hitomi into her seat before taking his own. While he served them both plates of small finger sandwiches and other light foods he told her about all the things he'd been doing since they'd seen each other almost two days before. Hitomi listened intently while mulling over bringing up her anxiety from earlier. “Wait... Allen and Millerna are both coming?” she piped up when something Van had said finally caught her full attention. “Isn't she married by now?”

 

Van looked thoughtful for a second. “Well yes, but Dryden is coming later and she certainly can't travel alone in her condition. Allen agreed to escort her.”

 

“Her condition? Is she sick?” Van frowned at her confused look until he realized she truly didn't understand what he meant. He quietly gestured to his stomach in a crude pantomime of pregnancy and Hitomi's eyes widened. “Oh. I forgot you don't like to say those things outright. When is she due?”

 

“Er... The prince or princess is expected in a few months,” Van responded uncomfortably. Hitomi quirked a half smile at him and realized she'd found the perfect opportunity to bring up her discussion with the seamstress that morning. “What?”

 

“Are you going to be this weirded out when we have kids Van?” His eyes widened in surprise before he shook his head slightly to deny her accusation, though he still looked faintly frightened. “Are you sure? Apparently your kingdom expects heirs pretty soon. The seamstress told me I might finally fit into that ridiculous corset once I've had a couple of children.” At the further widening of his dark eyes Hitomi finally took pity on him and tried to make it a more normal sort of conversation. “I don't know that I'm ready for that yet. But I want you to talk to me about those sorts of things Van. The more we talk, the better we'll be able to understand one another and what we both want, right?” It took him a few moments but he eventually calmed enough to nod faintly and quirk a smile at her.

 

Kids? As in children? As in his and Hitomi's children? Van's head was spinning more than a little. In all of his planning and organizing, dreaming and scheming, he hadn't even let the idea of children enter his head. Why would Hitomi want to have children with him? 'Doesn't she know? They would be monsters like me!' Something must have shone in his face because the young woman across the table from him reached out her hand and gently touched his. She didn't say anything, just gave him a questioning look. “I... There's a council meeting shortly,” he lied, “I shouldn't miss it.” Hitomi's face changed from worried to startled to hurt faster than he could think but he couldn't help the fact that he wasn't ready to tell her all his concerns just yet.

 

“Alright,” she said softly, pain evident even in her voice. Van cringed.

 

“We'll talk again later, ok?” he soothed her, using the word he'd picked up from her. Emerald green eyes brimmed slightly with tears but she nodded anyway, letting him kiss her on the cheek and leave without saying a word. The food remained for the most part untouched on the table.

 

The cool night air didn't seem to help his mood as he'd hoped. He'd hurt her again. Just after making it clear that he could tell her anything, he shut her out and walked out in the middle of the only bit of time they had to spend together that day. “I'm such an idiot.” Van wasn't sure how he was going to make it up to her but he knew he had to. She deserved an apology at the very least. A shame he wasn't better at giving them... Hitomi's eyes had haunted him the rest of the day, tears threatening to spill from their deep soulful depths as he lied to her and left her alone in the sitting room.

 

Up on the roof was his refuge, the one place almost no one could or would follow him. Had Merle been around she probably would have tried but he would have scolded her down before she got halfway. Speaking of the cat-girl he was still concerned. He hadn't seen her since the night they arrived and she'd blown up at him. How was he supposed to talk to her if she wasn't going to let him find her? Just one more problem he wasn't prepared to face.

 

Van knew the answer to the problem with Hitomi was to talk to her and explain his fears. She had always been more understanding than anyone else and more accepting than he ever expected. His beautiful wife-to-be never failed to amaze him with her forgiving and loving nature, her genuine concern and caring for others. 'And she's going to marry me,' he thought with a faint smile. The Fanalian king, like many other men in his position, realized how lucky he was in finding his perfect woman, having caught her and that soon she would be his for the rest of their lives. “I'm so lucky,” Van muttered to himself as he stared out at the low-hanging moon. The night was crisp and clear, if not a little cool, and Van finally realized his mind was in much the same state. He needed to talk to Hitomi. He had to give her the truth and one last chance to back out of this.

 

The balcony was a slow float down from his roof perch and Van was glad to find the doors unlocked. A faint light, likely from the fireplace, flickered behind the curtains. Swinging the doors open slowly the dark man took a few steps into the room, glancing around as he did so. Hitomi sat on the edge of her bed, staring at him with slightly wide eyes. “Van... What... What are you doing here?” At first glance he hadn't noticed but with a better look he could see she was in her nightgown, a light sheet pulled up to cover herself. She looked modest, shy, a little frightened and oh so very tempting. Her hair was slightly tousled, making it obvious that she'd been in bed until he startled her. “Van, is something wrong? Your...” She didn't say it aloud, but he knew she was confused by his appearance.

 

Seemingly losing her uncertainty Hitomi stood and scurried across the room to gently touch his chest. The touch was light but it seemed to ignite something inside him that he hadn't entirely anticipated when he'd planned this impromptu discussion. “Everything's fine Hitomi.” He wanted to say more but with her soft touch, wide green eyes and noticeable lack of covering was sidetracking him from what he'd originally meant to tell her. “I just... I needed to see you.” Her mouth twisted up in a little smile.

 

Both were distracted by the white feather that floated down between them. “I missed seeing your wings,” Hitomi confessed in a soft voice, her fingertips brushing softly down the rounded ridge of one wing as it curved around his shoulder. There was a tiny smile on her lips, the look she was giving him soft yet very tantalizing. “Are you sure nothing is wrong?” she asked again. The look on his face must have changed or she probably wouldn't have asked.

 

“I wanted to... About this afternoon,” he began, his face contorting slightly as he tried to think of the right words to say. Hitomi's look of concern faded and her eyes lowered to the floor. Van took a deep breath and tried to apologize smoothly. “I'm sorry. I... We finally got to be together and I...” Which of course didn't work out the way he would have liked. Hitomi tossed her hair from her eyes a little, still not looking at him.

 

“It's ok. I understand. You're busy.” Van shook his head, taking Hitomi's hands in his own.

 

“That's just it. I wasn't. I was... uncomfortable. You started talking about...” Van dropped his hands hopelessly, staring at his bride in hopes that she might understand his dilemma without him having to put it into words. Even with his earlier determination he was nervous about discussing the idea of them having children, draconian blood or not. Hitomi giving him a confused look made it clear she wasn't sure what he meant. “About... well children. And with these...” Van gently spread his wings enough to make his point before tucking them against his back.

 

Hitomi stared at him for several moments, her eyes slightly wide but not portraying any one emotion clearly. “Van? Is... is that what you're worried about? That our children will be like you?” The young king wasn't sure what to say and so just shrugged, a very large gesture with wide white wings on his back. “Why would that worry you?” At her question he gave her a look that questioned her sanity. “You know your heritage doesn't bother me. Our children will be a part of both of us,” she told him in a soft voice, “no matter what happens, they'll be ours and we'll be together. That's all that matters.” Hitomi's arms came up and around his neck, pulling his down into a hug. The Fanalian king sighed out through his nose and held her close. No one could make him feel so at home like Hitomi could. How had he survived for so long without her?

 

“I love you,” he murmured into her hair, placing a kiss there as she continued to hold onto him. Hitomi smiled and squeezed him a little tighter in response.

 

“How can he just let her walk back into his life like that?” The young cat woman was obviously upset and the young man at her side tried not to laugh at the way her tail kept twitching behind her against his thigh. Merle had come to him in a near fit of tears a few nights before and not sure what else to do to calm her, he'd let her stay in his arms all night. The pair had cultivated a good friendship the last few years, so it made sense for her to come to him, but that didn't mean Dimitri had anticipated her very loud and abrupt arrival through his window. While he enjoyed having her with him it hurt him to know she was so upset over the Fanel royal's upcoming wedding. Merle had known the woman before and it seemed to him, having had to learn to decipher her backhanded compliments and exaggerated emotional injuries some time ago, that this woman loved the king a great deal and that despite her anger Merle admired and cared for this Hitomi as well. What Merle couldn't seem to see was that her beloved Lord Van loved this woman he had brought back from the Mystic Moon. But that left no room for her in his heart in that capacity and Merle couldn't cope with that.

 

Dimitri frowned down at his hands before turning his eyes back up to the pink-haired girl in front of him. She was kind, brave and high-spirited. He loved her. There was no other explanation for the way he felt about her. But she had long since confused her feelings for the king with those of romantic love and couldn't seem to see that the one person who was always there for her, was the one waiting for her to see him. “He went to find her Merle, you told me that. So he obviously wanted her to come back.” Merle glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed angrily.

 

“That's... I...” With a sigh and a huff she stood and paced along the large stones that lined the fortress wall. “Why couldn't things just stay the way they were?”

 

“Because then nothing would ever change and we would get bored,” the raven-haired man joked. Merle turned her big eyes on him and growled for good measure. “What? It's true. You of all people should know that. You can't stand sitting still for long let alone let the whole world stay exactly the same forever.” At her growl of mild irritation Dimitri prepared himself for the inevitable. The lanky cat girl threw herself at him and the two tussled for dominance for a few moments. She kept her claws in so he knew she wasn't actually mad at him but he still struggled to keep from hurting her. She was more agile but he was still stronger. After a few rolls he had her pinned beneath him, both of them panting for breath.

 

“Dimitri,” she grumbled before looking up into his face. The young cat woman had never before seen the look in his eyes that she did in that moment. It was unexpected and she couldn't understand why he would stare down at her the way he was right then. His tongue darted out to wet his lips and Merle found herself doing the same without realizing it. “Dimitri I...” He hushed her softly, lowering his head as if to kiss her. The pink-haired girl held her breath, whether it was in anticipation or simply shock, she wasn't sure. “Dimitri,” she whispered just as his mouth was about to touch her own.

 

As he closed his eyes she thought he might continue. When he didn't, backing away a tiny bit, Merle wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved. “I apologize Merle,” he finally said, pulling himself stiffly to his feet and leaving her sitting on the walkway alone.

 

Never in her life had someone reacted to her in that way and Merle couldn't remember a time she had ever even thought of Lord Van in the way that Dimitri had just made her feel. Now that the moment was over she found she was disappointed that he hadn't kissed her. “But what about...?” She could barely think about her king and that fact that she had just betrayed him in her heart. 'But he's going to marry Hitomi,' a voice that reminded her too much of her now absent friend's. Had Dimitri felt that way for her all along and she just hadn't noticed?

 

Unsure of how to handle the situation, Merle remained on the fortress wall until the sun set, hoping he might come back to find her. When her friend still hadn't shown up, the guard had changed and it began to get chilly she finally ventured inside. The walls echoed her steps as she walked like the always did and Merle found the sound more eerie than usual. Wrapping her arms around herself she finally found herself in front of Dimitri's door. Tapping lightly before entering, Merle was glad to find it open. “Merle,” he greeted her without turning around.

 

“You never came back up.”

 

“I thought you would have left.” She frowned at the back of his head, not liking his dead tone nor the way he wouldn't turn to face her.

 

“That's silly.” He shrugged but said nothing in response. “Dimitri, about...”

 

“Let's just forget it. I'm sorry,” he interrupted.

 

Merle wasn't about to let it drop however. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. Being the stubborn feline girl that she was, she wasn't going to let her friend walk away from this situation without some kind of explanation. “Stop apologizing! What happened up there was not an accident and it wasn't wrong,” she snapped as her tail twitched angrily behind her. Dimitri finally turned to stare at her, his dark hair hanging haphazardly in his eyes. Their light blue depths stared up at her, unsure as to the reason for her outburst. Merle stared back and hated that he couldn't see the expression on her face. Sighing in defeat she stepped over to where he was sitting on his bed, gently settling herself next to him. He turned his body toward her, waiting for her to continue. “Have you always felt this way?” she finally asked in a whisper.

 

Dimitri frowned slightly but didn't deny or confirm her question immediately. “Does it matter?” She replied that it did to her and so he nodded. “Yes. But you care so much about his highness that...” In a fit of anger the dark-haired man stood walking to the fireplace and leaning against the mantel. Flexing his hands to keep from throwing or knocking something over, Dimitri tried to feel the calming warmth of the still burning embers on his face. Nothing helped, nothing curbed his embarrassment nor stemmed his anger. “I knew you could never feel for me as you do for him and yet I...”

 

“It's alright,” she murmured, startling him when he felt her hand upon his back. “Why didn't you say something before? I wouldn't have gone on about Lord Van like I do. I'm so sorry Dimitri.”

 

“Don't you dare pity me!” he snarled at her, shrugging his shoulder away from her hand.

 

Surprised, Merle stepped back. “Pity you? Absolutely not. I'm sorry I didn't know. That I was so stupid all this time. That's all. I don't pity you,” she replied. Tugging his shoulders until he faced her the young cat girl stared into his face. “I love you. Maybe not that way... yet. But I do care about you a great deal and I don't like that you've been hurting all this time.” At her words Dimitri felt a small sense of hope. Perhaps, now that she knew, she could come to love him as much as she loved their king, perhaps more.

 

“I understand,” he murmured. He didn't see the bright smile Merle shined his way but he certainly felt it in the hug she gave him. Maybe he couldn't have her the way he wanted right now but in time he could convince her that life with him wouldn't be so bad. As she continued to hug him he doubted it would take too much convincing.

 

 

 

So new characters, some small parts, some not so small. I hope no one's offended by the addition of Dimitri. I couldn't figure out what I was going to do about Merle and it just came to me in a Soy Chai induced delusion. Man this stuff is good. Try it if you never have. Chai should never be without soy. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

 

Dawnrider31