Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Tears of the Heart ❯ Awakening to a Nightmare ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Gatty wadoka da? Chesta wadoka da? Guimel wadoka da? Dalet wadoka da? Viole wadoka da? Shinda? SHINDA?! Don't ask… Anyways, I don't own Esca or any of the songs I use in this fic.

A/N: Well, here's chapter 2! REVIEW IT PEEPS AND I SHALL BE A HAPPY PERSON-THING! ^_^;

Here are my comments to the 6 kewl people who reviewed, thanks a lot, if you didn't I'll send my chibis after you!

Coolchick1500- I'm glad you like the idea! So far, I've only seen one or two other F/H fics… I'm sure there's more that I just haven't seen, but it's kind of pathetic compared to the 1,000 or so V/H and the numerous D/H…

Enfant de haine- I am glad you are a happy Icelander! I am a somewhat-happy Illinoiser… (That's a weird word…)

Kiya- Well, here's more to read! Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Harmony- I agree with you on the whole D/H thing. I just don't think they make a good match. It's extremely questionable if my match with Dilandau is good, but note that it's probably the FIRST time ever that the two characters have been paired… I have only seen one GOOD D/H that I can remember, and that's "Untamed Angel", which is a really good fic, I wish she'd work on the sequel more… Will Hitomi stay with Folken? Well, you'll have to read and find out… I'm not telling… * Laughs Diabolically *

Emerald Mist- I assure you that a romance will blossom with F/H, you'll just have to wait a while. This fic is 10 chapters long, so give it awhile. I'm glad you enjoy it! Keep reading it and I'll keep writing it!

Crimsonfire- I like your suggestion… This is the first time I actually have a long fic written out on paper before typing it and it's kind of nice to just have to wait for the reviews… I'll update it at least twice a week ; it's up to you reviewers… Sorry I left ya with a cruel cliffhanger, I hate those, but don't worry, there aren't that many chapters that end like that in this fic, they mostly end with the characters being deep in thought, sleeping, or confused or someone dying… (As people who read my fics should know by now, I seem to kill off at least half of the main characters before the fic ends… I'm sorry to say that this fic is no different… I'm glad you like it, nice reviewers like you keep me wanting to write these things… Anyways, I'll email you to let you know after I post this… It's 1:40 AM and I want to go to bed…

THIS CHAPTERS FOR YOU REVIEWERS! YOU'RE THE BEST!

Tears of the Heart

Baby I will soon be leaving,
and I know that you are feeling down…
But every week I'll send a letter,
To let you know my love will never change…
I promise you I always feel the same…

So remember in your heart,
Baby when we are apart,
There's no need for crying,
Cuz even if I am…

Halfway around the world,
That won't stop me from loving you…
Halfway around the world,
Still be feeling the way I do,
Now I wanna hold you baby,
Cuz I'm gonna miss you like crazy,
Even if I'm halfway around the world!

Baby when the miles are growing,
You and I will still be growing strong…
No matter what your friends are saying,
Don't give up on what you're waiting for…
Cuz one day I'll be knocking on your door…

So remember in your heart,
Baby when we are apart,
There's no need for crying,
Cuz even if I am…

Halfway around the world,
That won't stop me from loving you…
Halfway around the world,
Still be feeling the way I do…
Now I wanna hold you baby,
Cuz I'm gonna miss you like crazy…
Even if I'm halfway around the world…

If I could you know that I would find a way,
To stay for good but I must go now…
I wanna hold you baby,
I'm gonna miss you like crazy even if I'm…

-"Halfway Around the World" By A*Teens

Chapter 2: Awakening to a Nightmare

The girls roughly landed on a cold stone floor, practically being knocked unconscious.

"H-Hitomi… What's going on?" Yukari whimpered, pressing her hand against her bloodied forehead.

"I really don't know…" Hitomi whispered, trying to stop the bleeding on her arm with her jacket, only succeeding in staining her uniform. She looked around carefully, examining the futuristic machinery, yet the medieval aura still lingered.

"It's… Zaibach… I'm back…" She looked around in awe.

"Zaibach? Hitomi, what are you talking about?" Yukari moaned in confusion, still rubbing her head.

"Oh Yukari! I get to see him again! I'm so happy!" She shrieked, hugging her best friend. Realization struck her all of a sudden.

"Oh no… We're in Zaibach… They hate me… They want me dead… We're in danger…" She stopped her embrace and desperately looked around for a way to escape.

"Lady Hitomi…" A man emerged from the shadows. In a long, dark, robe, Hitomi knew he had to be a sorcerer. Hitomi shivered, her eyes widening in dread and horror.

She bravely stepped forward, hiding Yukari behind her.

"Who are you? Why are we here? What do you want with us?"

"I am Akushoui, a Zaibach sorcerer. You were brought here using the destiny prognostication engine, which Lord Folken rescued from the Vione…"

"Where is Folken? I thought he was helping the allies…"

"A clever ploy to gain their trust, then strike. We killed them all…"

"F-Folken is a traitor?" Hitomi stuttered in disbelief.

"Yes, and a good one at that…"

"V-Van?" Hitomi whimpered, afraid to know the truth.

"Oh, Van Fanel, King of Fanelia? He was the one to survive. Damn him…" The sorcerer scowled at the mention of the raven-haired boy's name.

"They're all dead…" Hitomi whispered, trying to blot out the images of shrieking comrades as they die. The fact that Van was alive consoled her somewhat, but she knew that she'd never see her friends again hurt more than a sword through the chest.

"Yes, they are dead. But don't you want to know why you're here?" The sorcerer seemed impatient with her mourning and Yukari seemed dazed and uncaring.

"Yes…" Hitomi muttered in consent, filled with grief.

"We were told by the royal council to bring the seeress from the Mystic Moon and her companion back to Gaea to our capital. You and your friend will be married to Lord Folken and Lord Dilandau tomorrow."

** "I've never seen clothes like yours before… Where are you from, little girl?" The crimson-eyed commander spotted Hitomi in the crowd of men and began to interrogate her. She shuddered uncontrollably, what would he do to her?

"So you noticed… I found her in the east and her name is Hitomi…" Allen said suavely, kissing her cheek.

"She's simply lovely, isn't she?"

"You live up to your reputation, Allen Schezar…" Dilandau spat with a disgusted look.

"I just hope you put as much effort into our provisions…" The diabolical adonis and his Dragonslayers filed out. **

"D-Dilandau?" She whispered in horror and disbelief. No. Not him. Not that demon. God no.

"Did someone say my name?" Dilandau sauntered into the room, hand at his hip where his finely polished sword swung by his leather belt.

"Yes, Dilandau. Here are the girls for you and Lord Folken." The sorcerer hissed, grinning wickedly at the unfortunate girls. Folken walked in behind the pyro, an unfeeling expression cloaking his being under his black sorcerer's robes.

"I still don't see the need for this, Akushoui. I don't have the patience for a wife." Dilandau commented snidely.

"My friend, why are you doing this? I'm ten years older than both of these girls. The only use I could have is to use Hitomi as a bargaining tool with Van, but I rather not. Send them home and let's be done with it." Folken commanded in that hauntingly cool voice of his.

"Wait just a minute!" Dilandau interrupted, walking over to Yukari and fingering a lock of her hair in appreciation.

"That Hitomi-wench is ruled out automatically. She's Allen's mistress, or maybe she's Van's girl. You can't really tell the way she sluts around. However…" He smiled at the red-haired girl dangerously.

"How DARE you call her a slut?! Why I oughta…" Yukari emitted pure rage."I like this one. She has spirit. You can take the slut, Strategos." Dilandau stroked a finger down Yukari's head wound and licked the blood from his glove, licking his lips. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away as she hopelessly struggled.

"How could you let him do that?! She has a fiancé! She has a life, a family, and none of it's here! How can you just ruin her life?" Hitomi looked up at the two men appealingly, tears filling her eyes.

"Folken, she's yours! The wedding is tomorrow! Take her out of my sight!" The sorcerer said in scorn of her pathetic emotions. Emotions were for the weak.

Folken walked slowly down the hallway and Hitomi silently followed.

"This will be your room."

"It used to be Naria and Eriya's dorm." Hitomi swore she could see a glimmer of a tear in his right eye, but she blinked and it disappeared. He turned to leave, but she stopped him.

"Folken… What happened to Van?"

"As far as I know, he is in Fanelia, mourning his losses. Merle died, you know…" Folken whispered, no regret evident in his voice.

"Merle too?" Hitomi asked sadly, not sure if she could take it anymore.

** A catgirl jumped through Hitomi's window.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

She began to lick her hand and Hitomi stared.

"Well what?" Why was that pesky girl here?

"Just don't get too familiar with him." She leaped off the sill and landed on the floor.

"What?"

"I'm saying, don't get too familiar with Prince Van. I don't want a foreigner like you getting too close to him!" Merle noticed her pendant and stared at it.

"Ooh…That's a pretty stone…" She noticed that Hitomi held her pendant and looked at it in wonder.

"I think I'll keep it!" She grabbed it smartly.

"HEY!" Merle dashed out of the room with Hitomi following.

"GET BACK HERE! YOU LITTLE CAT BURGLAR! I'LL SHOW YOU NOT TO MESS WITH AN ATHLETE!" **

"HOW CAN YOU NOT EVEN CARE?!" She demanded in hatred.

"She was just a child. She never did anything except love Van and take care of him. What danger was she to your cause? She died for him, just like Naria and Eriya died for you! You sacrificed them! You took advantage of their love for you! They're dead Folken, and it's all thanks to you…" She pointed her finger at him in blame.

"How can you know what they felt?" Folken asked coldly, trying to hide his hurt.

"Because… They were my friends…" Hitomi whispered in regret.

"Friends?" Folken asked, the word sounding strange from his lips.

"There are no such things as 'friends', Hitomi. There are only enemies and allies. Friendships are for fools."

"They believed in you… Right up till the end…"

"Belief is also for fools." Folken said coldly, storming away to his quarters.

"But Folken… I believed in you too…" Hitomi said softly, closing the door to her room wondering what had happened to the boy she had once knew who tamed dragons and flew on black wings. Where was the gently boy now? And most importantly, what was going on around here?

A/N: at least 10-15 reviews total for the next chapter… Here's a preview…

"You mustn't be so hard on Lord Folken, Lady. Running an empire isn't easy y'know."

"Folken is the Emperor of Zaibach?" Hitomi whispered in disbelief.

REVIEW! I'm sorry that "A Thousand Miles" got messed up with my last posting, I'm still mastering html spacing… Ugh…

Oh yes, if you review which I hope you will, I'm curious what you guys think of the following things…Yukari and Dilandau? Bad, Good, Interesting? Will it last? Hitomi and Folken? Will it work since Folken betrayed the Allies? What about Van?

Oh yes, and wish me luck, I get my braces removed today… * Cringes * Arigatou and Sayonara! ^_^

~Trunks Gal~