Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Statue de Atlantic ❯ Escape ( Chapter 2 )

Tennyo: Well, I have returned at last!!!!

Van: Now how long has it been since you last updated?

Tennyo: *states proudly* One month and three days!

Van: *half lidded expression* That's not something to be proud of…

Tennyo: Anyway, I have been procrastinating a lot. I am not out of school yet, I technically get out on Wed. since I'm not going on the class trip *more writing time for me* and 8th graders don't have to be at school on Thursday. WHOO-HOO!!!! It's almost over, over!!!!

Van: Then on to driver's ed…don't let her drive an SUV or a Jeep.

Tennyo: Dear lord that's not fun, I like driving little cars. So anyway I am so sorry for not updating, and I haven't been reviewing much either. But I will be once school's done and I'm not going to China anymore…

Van: SARS!

Tennyo: Yes, well, on w/ the show…

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne or Inu-Yasha because why the hell would I if this story was only available on the internet. Hell, I don't even really technically own Hitoshi. However, the plot is mine so I appreciate it not being stolen.

The guards quickly enclosed the pair in a circle, just to make sure their escape routes would be blocked off. Their stun-guns were held up, fingers barely pressing the trigger. Just a small threat saying that the pair would either be subdued the hard way or the easy way. Each one of these men had different means of meeting the same objective, to capture the boy. But now they had to band together with the same fighting styles and attacks to capture him. The girl as well, she'd seen what happened and that was something apparently their superior could not allow.

"Now, now, we won't hurt you two if you come quietly."

Mentally, Hitomi scoffed at the men. The line was so cliché from it raging on in movies to it abusing the pen in a book. Usually men with guns, especially people who looked as though they were part of the army or something, wouldn't be so gentle. With a sudden swish, one of the youth's arms came in front of hers. Several flecks of his blood attached themselves to her blouse.

"Stay out of the way and you'll be fine," the one they called Van snapped harshly.

Hitomi glared daggers at him for that remark. Even though she knew it was true, being only a fifteen year old girl with no martial arts training whatsoever. Of course, she did watch the kendo team and such, so she could hold her own against the typical pervert on the streets. These weren't the usual streetwalkers, these were bona fide fighters and she couldn't help but feel a little fear from these men. Van however didn't. she couldn't tell whether his stony face was from being encased in a statue for so long or just because of his personality. Either way, his face was hardened with the utmost seriousness on it. The men merely chuckled, not in a friendly manner, but a cold amused manner.

"There'll be no resistance boy, we'll make sure of that," another hissed.

"You wouldn't be stupid enough to actually challenge us anyway, would you?"

Van merely cocked the group a smirk that soon returned back to his enigmatic expression, "I don't enjoy fighting, but if I have to…"

The right arm that had been used to block Hitomi now wiped itself against one of his more deeper wounds. The bloodied hand than made a grab at Hitomi. Hitomi, who believed he was trying to grab at her chest nearly cried out. She didn't think that he'd be the type of person to do such a horrendous act. Instead, she realized that he had grabbed the rose colored stone part of her pendent. Through the spaces of his clenched fist, a white light seeped out. As he let go, his hand held the position of holding some sort of handle which was currently the light. Slowly, the light followed from the pendant and eventually stopped. The light disappeared, revealing a beautiful sword in his grasp. The handle was gold, adorned with several rubies and the blade was a clean silver. He held what seemed to be his defensive position with a dark, piercing look.

"…I will!" he finished.

The first one to run up was stupid and overly confident. He charged at Van with his gun ready to strike. Van however, dodged him and delivered quite a blow. The next set of soldiers came in a trio, all three trying to hit him with enough power to knock him out. The weapons only scathed him as he slashed through the group.

"What are you doing!?" the man who seemed to be the one in charged shouted, " There are more of us than there are of him."

He could feel his body tire from the blood dripping from his wounds. This wasn't something he was in the mood to kept up, but had to.

Dodge…

Kick…

Swing…

Slash…

T he steps were constantly being repeated in his head. He felt something dig into his stomach…a fist. The fist was detached from its arm as Van used the blade to its advantage. He had been slow, he'd been careless. He couldn't let it happen again, but he couldn't keep doing this. He made a run for the girl. Grabbing her wrist, he used his wings to levitate them and flew as quick as possible. Running wasn't his thing, but he had an innocent to look after.

The men, at least those who remained, were frozen in shock. They had never seen such a person before, one who could take down several fully grown men even in an injured state.

"Well, don't just stand there. The bastard's injured, it should be easy to take him down!"

With that command, the men ran to find him.

"We should at least lay here for a little while."

Hitomi collapsed on the ground from both exhaustion and shock. When she awoke this morning, she didn't expect this. The youth before her leaned against the wall. His breathing was labored and his skin and torn clothing was stained with blood. His brow creased as sweat dribbled from it. If she was exhausted he must've been near dead. She couldn't help but look up in awe at his perseverance.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Huh?" Hitomi asked, as a blush in her cheeks rose, "Uh-yes, I am. Thank you for saving me."

"I don't like seeing blood spill, especially from an innocent women, don't worry about it," he snapped.

" Well sorry, but we need to take care of your wounds. That's too much blood for you to be alright."

"I'll be fine!" right after he said this his body gave way, "Dammit!"

Hitomi towered over him in triumph, " See, told you! First thing first, we need to take care of you. Near our apartment is a doctor who is an old friend so I' sure she'd be more than happy to help out. She doesn't ask questions or anything so I think you'll be fine. Then you can stay with me until we actually figure out what's going on and-hey! Are you listening to me!?"

It seemed that he wasn't. His eyes were clenched tightly shut as his brows furrowed in concentration. With a single intake of breath, the wings retracted into his back. He glared at the pain his wings had caused him and let out a light snarl. Hitomi however seemed to be relieved.

"What do you find so relaxing about all this?" he snarled.

"What? No, it's just, any random person would be surprised to see you," Hitomi replied nervously.

"You mean seeing someone bleeding?" he inquired, not seeming to realize the point.

"Well, they'd probably brush that off as some gang fight, but I mean you wings."

"What do you mean my wings?" he said in a rather defensive tone.

"Well," she wasn't too sure how to say this without not sparing some tact, "It's just, it's not everyday we see someone with angel wings walking around…"

Now he stared at her as if she was some sort of mental.

"We don't consider people with wings normal."

"Most of Atlantis's population possess wings, it shouldn't be odd to any of you."

"Atlantis……?"

He really is…

"Yes Atlantis," Van said.

"We're in Tokyo…"

No response.

"…You know, Japan? Asia? Earth!?" this apparently wasn't going to be easy.

"I know the areas around my region and I've never of any of those places!"

"Of course you haven't! Atlantis isn't real to us!" she didn't mean for it all to come out like this, " It's just some mythical land that never existed!"

He couldn't believe it, this girl what she was saying, it-it's, "IT'S NOT TRUE!"

"Uh-I…"

"You have no idea what you're saying! I've grown up in that so-called mythical land, I know it's real!"

"I don't know what's real and what's not anymore," the emerald eyes beauty admitted shamefully, "It's just, well, I'm used to leading a normal life. A life where I'm not meeting boys breaking out of statues. You know, I was so happy with what was going on and now…who are you!?"

"I don't need to answer you! You're the one who woke me up," he resumed a more relaxed position from his wounds aggravating him, "You look so much like her, how can this not be real!?" he raved on with whatever word that came to mind.

He proceeded to lay back down, his breathing becoming even more labored, "I'm so tired, it feels like I haven't slept…in so long."

"I find that hard to believe since you've been sleeping for thousands of years."

"In that statue, I felt suspended, never sleeping but never awake…in my fake life," he added on bitterly just to guilt Hitomi.

"Well, I know that the blood from your body is real and that it should be treated. After that I'm going to ask you many questions."

"Actually, that'll be our job missy."

The men had returned, fewer in numbers which was to be expected since Van had eliminated most of them. He gained his ground again, using the sword as a support. The men zeroed in on them as though they were circling vultures.

"Shit…" Van muttered under his breath.

Which was a true statement, considering they were about knee deep in it. Van created an opening in the circle, pushing Hitomi away from the surrounding men. His next move took at one of the men who came into the center. Unfortunately, that seemed to be the only hit he could manage. One of the men used the back of their gun to beat him to the ground. He didn't want to fight anymore. His body wouldn't let him put up a fight. Every hit caused his body to seize up and wretch. Something a girl Hitomi's age should never have to witness, but she did. He wouldn't even cry out which made it even worse. Her eyes brimmed with tears and widened in horror at the sight. She brought her hands up to her temples, clutching her head tightly as she tried to block out all visions of what was happening to him. She let out an unearthly scream, that released a wave of light.

His vision changed from black to white. His vision in shades of pastels. Instead of the girl he had just met, it was another, her look alike. This one's hair was longer and fanned out. She stretched out her hand in a welcoming manner with a smile of her face.

"Hitoshi…" was the last word he uttered before his world faded into darkness.

Folken paced back and forth in fury. Grabbing a random object, he threw it across the room allowing it to shatter against the wall's harsh impact. The two cloaked figures kept their kneeling positions the whole time. It was odd how Folken could contain his anger from crying aloud. He quickly stalked over to the pair with a quiet fury in his face.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice restrained.

"We don't know Lord Folken," one of the voices replied.

"We apologize for their behavior, Lord Folken," the other said, "We should've gone for him. Now another knows and he escaped."

"Don't worry about it, we just need to concentrate on finding him and that girl. I doubt they've even left the city so it shouldn't be impossible to find them," he paused for a moment, "But what of this white light? Is it the same?"

"The sorcerers said it's a positive match."

" It is the same pattern as Hitoshi's."

"Well, so they are connected. Alright then…"

"Lord Folken?"

"Naria, Eriya," he said, cupping both girl's cloaked chins with his hands, "I want to find out everything you can about Hitomi Kanzaki. Know where her favorite places are, know where she hangs out, and know where Van is. I doubt those two will be apart. Van knows better than to do anything stupid, even if he is rash. Well then, go!"

"Yes Lord Folken!" the paired answered at once, before fading away.

"Soon Van, you may find yourself reunited with her sooner than you thought."

Millerna Sara Aston sat in her apartment, quietly reading over some texts. Her fluffy blond hair was held back in a tight braid, and underneath her small spectacles which hung off the end of her nose covered her dazzling lavender pools. Her eyes skimmed a few more pages before turning to pick up her pen and write down a few notes. After that she placed the pen on her papers and took a sip of coffee from her "Hello Kitty" mug. Her motto, "Coffee makes the world go round" proved valuable. Usually, this was how she spent her evenings. No date, no partying, nothing. To her fellow co-workers at the clinic it seemed as though she had no social life whatsoever. They were pretty much right. Destiny had handed her a card that didn't involve the daily pleasures of life. She had fully accepted the hand she was given, not because she to. It was because it was something that had to be done, better her than someone else. When Millerna awoke this morning, she had no idea what the day would bring her. Especially what would happening in about three…two…1...seconds…

Knock, Knock!

The shock of such noise nearly caused Millerna to jump out of her chain, "Who's there!?" she asked, rather louder than she had expected.

"Millerna!?" she knew that voice, "Millerna, it's me, please come to the door! I need your help!"

Immediately, Millerna rushed to the door and opened it as quickly as possible. There stood Hitomi, and a handsome youth with his arm slung over the young high school student's shoulder. Both of them dirty and caked with blood. The boy's eyes were clouded over in pain, but he was still conscious. Hitomi's eyes were shimmering with freshly brought tears and her expression was that of pleading.

"Please Millerna, we need your help."

"Come in and set him down on the couch over there," she ordered.

"OW!" the youth said before resuming gritting his teeth to block out the pain.

She began examining the wounds, some were cuts and bruises. Several looked as though they had been bleeding for years, which wasn't possible, was it? Other wounds, newer wounds, she knew the causes of those. Which genuinely disturbed her, because she just might have an idea of who it was. It might be him, it might be time.

"Hitomi, we're going to have a talk, but now get me my supplies," she demanded, "I'll work on him quickly."

About two hours had passed when Millerna returned to the kitchen. Hitomi had nearly fallen asleep, but her nerves kept her awake, and coffee lots of coffee. When she finally realized the young doctor was done, she immediately stood up.

"Thank you so much Millerna," she said while bowing.

Millerna smiled at the young girl before her. She remember when Hitomi had been a little chubby cheeked toddler and now…well now. She walked over to the sink to removed the blood stained gloves, and hoped later she'd be able to wash the blood out of her shirt.

"It's no trouble at all Hitomi, but I need to break my little honor code for one moment," this is what Hitomi had feared, "I need to know what the people who attacked you two looked like. Don't even try to say no one did because I know what kind of wounds that boy has."

" But…"

"I promise I won't tell any policemen, it's more of a personal matter for me."

"They looked like they were part of some sort of S.W.A.T team or something," she received a rather rude glare from Millerna, "That's all I know, they just attacked us…"

"…and they attacked you why?" she asked.

Hitomi took a deep breath before answering, "He, came out of statue," she replied nervously.

"A statue?" Millerna inquired disbelievingly.

"Err, yes."

"He, came…out…of…a statue?"

"Look Millerna I know it's hard to believe and all. I'm not lying, I swear. I was at the museum and then this weird light came, it just all happened and he broke out of the statue," she paused for a moment, almost shaking, "He -he was dead for a moment, then he came back and they came. I can't handle this Millerna, I only stayed at the museum for a chance to get a ride with my crush. I don't know what's going on."

"I think you're right Hitomi, but don't worry about it now."

"How is he?"

"Fine, he fell asleep. I think he passed out from the pain or from being exhausted. Poor guy, I have a feeling he'll be sleeping for awhile. He'll be lying in bed for a long time I can tell you that. He had a few deep wounds and he's lost a lot of blood."

"Oh…"

"So what'll you do now Hitomi?" Millerna asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you very well can't keep him in the house can you?"

"Mom will be out of town for the month," she said.

"And…well, he can't just stay at home. In fact you should be lucky that I didn't send him to the hospital."

"He could enroll in my school," Hitomi suggested, "That way I'd be able to watch him," she began to become nervous under Millerna's glare, "I'd be able to make sure that his old injuries don't aggravate him or that . Also, if those men attack us we'll be together."

"…Really," the young doctor said with a smirk, "Well in that case, you better get some sleep. Come on Hitomi, you can go into my bedroom and I'll take…"

"Van!"

She paused for a moment thoughtfully, "Interesting…well I'll take Van into the guest room. I'll write you a leave of absence for your school. Now get some rests, he'll be here for awhile."

"Okay, see you in the morning," Hitomi said, "Thank you so much.

" Anytime."

He was still painted in this pastel-like world. All types of colors, moreover a dream version of his home. That girl had been wrong, Atlantis does exists. It was Folken, Folken and his stupid mind games. This is one of his damn strategies, make him think he was crazy and send him off the edge. Angelic-like figures overshadowing him, looking at him. This was his home, these were his people. That other world, the fake world wasn't his. That hadn't been reality, that had been fantasy…

Van…

Van…

"What the!?"

Van awoke to an annoying bright light that was only outmatched by the pain that continually throbbed in his body. He noticed numerous bandages wrapped around him as if he were some sort of mummy. Well, except his face. Every movement of the body seemed to require so much effort. Moving his eyes brought forth a bought of lightheadedness. His mouth felt stiff, as if a pillow had been stuffed into it. His vision was hazy, too hazy. This wasn't how he was awake, this was far from being awake. A state in which all could barely be seen, but he could not do anything. That was what set him off. He hadn't been this angered for quite some time. He hadn't been this helpless for quite some time either. His ruby eyes burned with an inner fire of rage.

Hitoshi…

If he could, he would grit his teeth in fury, but he couldn't. Why couldn't he!? His body felt light. The movement in his arms seemed to return to him. He raised one of them to trace the other. He felt some sort of tube near his arm. He traced his finger up to where the tube was. There was some sort of needle embedded in his arm, that was the source of all of this. Going on his manly instincts, acting before thinking, he ripped the needle out of his arm. Something began to repeatedly beat on the monitor as he clutched his arm in shock from pulling out the object. An array of crashing sounds echoed throughout the room. Combine that with the odd sounds from the machines and it was Hell to the ears, especially for someone who wasn't even familiar with these sounds or this world. Amidst all the panic, Van fell from the bed as he clutched his ears. The feel in his body had partially returned, bringing a bout of pain with it. Blood on some of the more fragile wounds began to seep through the bandages. In all pain, frustration, and confusion, he allowed his less injured arm to pound at the ground.

"What the hell!? What the hell!? Why is this happening!? DAMN THIS!!!"

"DAMMIT ALL!" he cried out.

Millerna had been sitting at her rather petite table, or so it had felt rather small. Now that she had two more people here, the table felt small. Of course she wasn't sure if he could qualify yet since he was still unconscious. Everything seemed to be content, that is…until the monitor in the youth's room went off. After that, she heard several crashing sounds proceed the monitor. Standing up from the table, she placed the cup of coffee she had been drinking on the counter. She placed her glasses on and let out a light sigh as she stared at the small hall.

He's awake.

Cautiously, she opened the door to see him on the floor, with freshly opened wounds too. Her eyes half lidded at the sight.

Great, more stitching.

He looked up at her as though she were to attack and he was preparing to apparently. Millerna let out a hearty laugh. She couldn't remember the last time a patient had done that.

"Don't worry," she reassured composedly, "I'm not going to kill you-"

"What makes you think you could?" he inquired weakly.

Millerna kneeled to meet his eyes, letting one of her fingers lightly jab him in the stomach, "See," she said pointedly as he let out a light gasp, "Right now you're too weak.. Besides," she proceeded to standing up, "What kind of healer would I be if killed you? Not a very good one I suppose."

He could only stare up at this woman in utter confusion.

"Oh come on Van, you don't remember me?" she asked.

"No," he answered simply.

Her eyes saddened at his answer.

"I'll help you back into the bed," she said dully.

"I won't stay here."

"Oh yes you will young man!" she ordered, "And I'll ask you not to rip out the IV next time either."

"What…"

"The needle you'll see in your arm next time you wake up. It'll take the pain away from all your boo-boo's which I have to re-stitch now since you decided to get out of bed."

Millerna assisted the youth back into the bed, which he so grudgingly rested in. She turned around to grab one of her sedatives. He was the kind of patient that wasn't fun to have awake.

"What are you doing?"

"I need you to be sleeping, we'll have a lot to talk about once you wake up," she said as the sedative took effect, "Van."

"How…" he could feel the world fading away, "How…did you know…"

And once again, the darkness took over.

Hitomi enjoyed dreaming, because in dreams she was at peace. Currently, the complications from a week ago seemed so insignificant compared to what was happening now. The Wheel of Fortune seemed to reverse for her and she wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing. This person, he caused all sorts of things to happen to her and so far they hadn't been good.

So far she had been standing in a field, contemplating her own worries as any teenage girl would. This world that she had been so comfortable with had now dealt her another card. She would move on, she had to move on though. As she stood here, in this field she could see things. She could see blood and bodies. She could smell Death. It was a sickening smell, one that have her the urge to vomit from its scent. How a simple field had gone from one of flowers to one of death was beyond her. It was horrifying. There, in the center of it all was a little boy who was sobbing. He didn't move , but his sobs echoed all over the area. She reached out a hand to comfort him, but he slapped it away.

"It's okay to cry now, go ahead," she said warmly.

"Who asked you if it was okay to cry?" he questioned bitterly, "Why are you in my head."

"Wha-what!? I thought…I…aren't I dreaming?"

"No, you're not," the boy replied coldly.

She began taking in the area even more, confused at her surroundings, "Then where am I? Is this your dream?"

"Stay out!"

"I can't, please let me help you-"

He wouldn't listen, he couldn't listen. Behind the boy stood a shadow of his older self. It was him….

"JUST STAY OUT OF MY DAMN HEAD YOU BITCH!!!!"

She never wanted a dream like that again, never…

Tennyo: Suggestions for the next fic to be updated? Anyone? Well I wish to give a special thank you to all reviewers, you all help me so much by motivating me to update.

Van: Or making her feel overwhelmed with guilt.

Tennyo: Shut-up. I want to say thank you so much to all of you, see ya next time and hope ur all having a great summer^.^