29 September, 2000

Vision of Escaflowne

"The Return"

by: The MOUSE.................................

Hitomi Kanzaki barely listened to the excited whispers from her schoolmates surrounding her. She focused her mind on nothing, save the eddies of fate she had learned to detect with a little practice. She smiled slightly. Her talents for telling the future and seeing the invisible had developed greatly over the last five years. She could feel emotions now too, hear thoughts and project her own as clearly as if she were speaking, but only from short distances. Most of the time it was accidental, others times it was because the one who heard her was receptive enough. Silently, she had wondered if that had been why she hadn't been able to hear the thoughts of her heart's beloved, because of the impossible distance that separated them. Her nimble hands expertly shuffled the cards from her tarot deck in silence.

Present influence, she thought to herself as she turned over the top card from the deck. She blinked. The Luce. She smiled sadly, then more in confusion. This card had always represented King Van Fanel. Who was it now to be influencing her present? And what did it mean?

"Kanzaki-san?" a young boy's voice cut through her thoughts.

She looked up at the young redhead standing before her now. "Yes?"

"I was asked to give you this." and he held the object out to her. "He said you would know what it means."

Hitomi's eyes went wide at the sight of the immaculate white feather the boy held out to her. She took it gingerly and her senses were immediately flooded by a feeling of overwhelming love radiating from it. She blinked a few times to clear her mind from the surprise the feather contained, and looked at the card in her other hand. The Luce.

It was him!

A bright smile lit up her features as she quickly stuffed her cards into her backpack and dashed off from the completely confused crowd. She didn't need to be told where to go. She knew. Her heart was telling her where he was. Hitomi ran into the small woods at the other end of the track field, then skidded to a sudden stop at who she came face-to-face with. This wasn't the man she was expecting to see.

"Allen...?"

The fair haired Asturian Knight bowed elegantly from the waist with his eternally gentle smile. "Lady Hitomi, it is a great pleasure to see you again." he greeted in a voice that left every woman weak in the knees.

Every woman except Hitomi. "Allen, it's good to see you too, but... the feather... I thought..."

He smiled at her in amusement, but said nothing as his eye darted to something just past her shoulder. She was going to become seriously irritated with him when a strong, yet gentle, pair of gloved hands settled at her waist. A deep, surprised blush colored her cheeks. Her breath locked in her throat in shock.

"Did you really think I would send him here alone without me?" a gentle, playful voice whispered near her ear.

A wide smile brightened her face and she whirled around to see the one face she had dreamed of every night for the last five years. "Van!" she exclaimed joyfully, her arms wrapping around his neck to hold him close, to be close to his heart again.

"Hitomi." he sighed happily against her ear, crushing her close.

Allen stood by silently and watched the tender reunion between the two, a twinge of what he could best describe as jealousy touching his heart. He, too, loved Hitomi dearly. There had been a time when he had shared a few kisses with her and felt her refreshing innocence when he held her near. Allen had intended to marry this girl from the Moon of Illusions, to forever keep her at his side. But he had reluctantly stepped aside when it had become obvious how strongly linked she had been, and still was, to the young King.

"I missed you so much." Allen heard Hitomi whisper to Van.

The two pulled back enough from each other to see each other's eyes. ""I'm sorry..."" they began in unison, then stopped to laugh that they had the same words to say after so long.

"You first." Van offered with a smile.

She smiled back in thanks, gazing at him to memorize his features once again. He hadn't changed much in five years. His raven black hair was still in a state of disarray, a look that suited him so well. He had grown some, topping her by a more significant margin now, his musculature more defined from years of hard work rebuilding his city. And his dark eyes still burned with boundless energy, a brighter fire visible behind them now as he stared at her. His clothes had changed though. He no longer wore his usual red sleeveless shirt and off white pants. Instead he now favored a kind of uniform of the darkest blue she had ever seen. The uniform of office for the King of Fanelia? She forced her mind away from a daydream, brought around by staring at him, and concentrated on the words she had wanted to say.

"I'm sorry I stayed so quiet these last five years." she began. "I wanted to talk with you, to see you if only for a moment, but I never got enough time to devote to trying. My school finals, endless track meets, and now I'm helping coach the track team... Oh, Van, can you ever forgive me for my silence?" she questioned, her eyes pleading him in almost desperate hope.

He cupped her cheek in a gloved hand. "Only if you forgive my silence." he answered, fighting not to drown in the exotic green of her eyes. At a quick glance she had developed more feminine curves in all the right places and her hair had lightened from sun exposure, but for the rest she had remained faithful to his memories. Even down to the clothes she wore. "Being a King and rebuilding Fanelia stole all my time and concentration, all of which I wanted to spend talking to you. There are a lot more responsibilities than I realized that I had to take on."

A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "We're growing up." she admitted. "Does it sometimes feel too fast for you too?"

"Sometimes."

He had a pause, staring straight into her eyes, and her stomach began to knot in dread that his return wasn't just a social visit.

"We came to bring you back to Gaia."

The knot tightened hard, the dread translating to her face. At first puzzled by her expression, he then began to chuckle.

"No, Hitomi, no, there are no wars going on that we need your talent to help us win. No, the lands around Fanelia are all peaceful. No sign of unrest yet. It's just..." He paused, linking his hands together at the small of her back to keep her close, trying to find the right words. "Fanelia's official re-opening just wouldn't be right without you there."

Her eyes softened in understanding and she glided her fingers down his cheek. "Then of course I'll go back. I'm anxious to see the results of all your hard work... and to see more of our friends again."

"Then you will need to wear this." Allen stated as he draped a thick mass of fur pelts, sewn together, over her shoulders. "It is winter on Gaia and the winds can be bitterly cold." he explained, handing Van his coat before donning his own.

"It must be beautiful." she smiled at the young Fanelian King as he took her hand to keep her close.

Paled in your presence, he thought. "I hope you think so." he opted instead to answer softly, beginning to concentrate to activate the pendant and send them back to Gaia shrouded in a veil of mystery.

The column of blue light appeared again, closing around the three and pulling them skyward. When the light finally cleared, Hitomi found herself standing knee deep in a thick snow bank with the two men. Her running shoes and short socks did nothing to block out the cold of the snow, but she bit back the surprised gasp. The land around her glowed a white silver from the double moons hanging overhead, the air as frigid as Allen had promised. She shivered, hugging the coat a little tighter to herself, as she looked around the familiar yet alien landscape. There was no sign of Fanelia or any city anywhere nearby. Hitomi smirked knowingly.

"Seems to land us only in the right place on Earth." she voiced.

"That, and I'm out of practice." Van admitted, scrutinizing the stars to know where he was and which direction to go in.

"I think that's to be considered a good thing seeing as it was mostly to take us away from immediate danger." came her quip.

He chuckled and gave her hand a slight tug as he led the way in the general direction to Fanelia. Allen walked a few short steps behind them, giving them a margin of privacy without being too far away. Every so often during their walk Van would glance back at Hitomi, seeing the occasional shiver grip her from the night's cold. He tightened his hand on hers, silently asking if she was all right, and she would raise her eyes to his with a reassuring smile to tell him that she was fine. Over the next snow covered rise they suddenly took notice of dozens of bright torches moving towards them. Allen Schezar gripped the hilt of his sword a little tighter, moving closer to Hitomi to protect her should the need suddenly arise. Something about their appearance, here, in the middle of nowhere didn't sit well with the Knight. It was just too convenient. A quick glance to the young King told him he felt the same about it. Hitomi pressed closer to Van's back, having felt the mood suddenly shift from one of joyful reunion to sudden worry.

"Van?" she questioned in a fearful voice.

"Stay close, Hitomi." he told her. "Allen?"

"Raiders, no doubt." the Knight responded.

"Looks like. Options."

"Not many given the situation. In any case we must continue walking. If they believe we have not recognized them they may just continue on their way. We must not show any signs that we have recognized them."

Van tugged Hitomi closer to his side protectively, pulling her coat's hood over her head to hide her face. If she were to get frightened her expression would give it all away... like it was now.

"Raiders?" she questioned.

"A band of nomads who made themselves very unwelcome wherever they went." he answered. "They've attacked many of the smaller villages and a few travelers with hit and fade tactics, staying just long enough to take what they wanted. They never stay long enough in one place to be found and dealt with."

"Following their tracks in the snow should be easy."

"You'd think, but we haven't been able to find any tracks."

They walked on, both men's faces blank, Hitomi keeping as silent as possible as the Raiders neared them on their strange Gaian beasts of burden. The riders regarded the three travelers with seemingly avid curiosity. One of the riders even went so far as to turn his mount around to bring it to walk even with the two lead walkers. Allen's eyes narrowed slightly, mentally preparing himself for anything, his hand gripping his sword hilt a little tighter. Unseen under his coat, Van's hand did the same to his own sword. The rider scrutinized the two lead walkers carefully, noting their joined hands, then suddenly reached over and yanked back Hitomi's hood. She yelped in pain as he pulled some of her hair as well as the hood. Her green eyes twinkled in fear in the moonlight. The young Fanelian King immediately interposed himself between her and the rider, challenge flashing in his ruddy brown eyes. Allen turned to face those riders who were now trying to flank the three.

The closest Raider merely began to chuckle at the hopelessness of the three, his companions grinning knowingly as if they shared the same thought. All eyes were on Hitomi. "Exotic looking girl. A fine looking prize." the chuckling Raider began. "Sheahan will like her."

It seemed to be the signal for the other Raiders to draw their weapons and begin advancing on the small group. Hitomi heard the ringing of steel as both the King of Fanelia and the Asturian Knight drew their swords to defend her. Neither would give her up to these men without a fight. She backed away a few steps from her friends, allowing them space without any hindrance from her presence. She never noticed what was happening behind her. A rough arm suddenly snaked around her waist from behind and yanked her off her feet. She shrieked in surprised fear, fighting against the Raider holding her.

"Van!" she cried desperately.

Van Fanel turned at her cry and felt his heart tighten at the sight of her in the hands of the Raiders. She felt the pang as vividly as if she were the source herself. Deep down part of her mind had to smile at the warm feeling it gave her. Their bond was reaffirming itself between them. The link was still there.

"Hitomi!" He sliced through one Raider to confront the obvious leader of this wandering band. "Let her go." he growled menacingly, his sword held at ready before him.

But the Raider seemed more interested in the red and gold crest at the blade's base than the warning of its wielder. "The crest of Fanelia." he voiced softly in growing interest. "Well, now, what an interesting discovery. Two armed swordsmen escorting a very lovely young lady, and one of the men bares Fanelia's crest. Could it be this girl is under Fanelian protection, a noble from another Kingdom meant as a bride to the King perhaps?"

Hitomi blushed, Van remained silent, immobile, with Allen mimicking his stance at his side. Both men's eyes burned in menace. Hitomi could feel the barely controlled rage just beneath the surface of Van's mind. He had changed in the last five years. Back then he wouldn't have thought twice about simply charging the attackers, hostage or no hostage. Now, he was holding back, worry wrapping itself around the rage to quash it as much as possible.

"I'll take that silence as a confirmation." the rider chuckled gleefully. "Go back to your King, Fanelian. Tell him Sheahan has his lovely... Hitomi, was it? And that he'll be more than willing to trade her back to him... for a price. We'll send word on where to meet." and he laughed, turned his mount and led the race away from the duo.

Van tried to follow them, but Allen grabbed his shoulder to restrain him. "Rushing after them like this without a plan of action is no better than committing suicide."

A look of anguish crossed the Fanelian's face, then vanished into resolve. "We have to get back to the Palace. We need to know as much as possible on this Sheahan and his Raiders." and he began to run in the direction of his city.

Allen allowed himself a smile as he followed his friend. "Now, you're thinking like a King."

To Be Continued…