13 February, 2001

Vision of Escaflowne

"The Return"

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

Kanzaki Hitomi stared out of the large window of her quarters to the snow-covered city below and smiled. It was beautiful from a distance and even more beautiful up close. After having satisfied her little Brother's curiosity about guymelefs and leva-ships, Van had taken her family on a tour of his city, supplying them all with thick coats to wear against Gaia's winter. As they left the palace Hitomi had explained the actual extent of the damage the city had suffered, only serving to further increase the awe and wonder of her parents at how Fanelia looked like now. There had not been a trace of destruction anywhere. The people of Fanelia had welcomed the impromptu tour with open arms, treating her and her family like welcome friends. Young children had run up to Hitomi in wonder of the seer from the Moon of Illusions. A small snowball fight had even broken out between her and them. Her parents had looked on in horror when one projectile hit the young King square in the chest, but he merely grinned devilishly and joined into the battle. All around people laughed and some even clapped Van on the back. Hitomi felt a touch of pride as she thought back to the day's events. There had not been any signs of displeasure among Van's people. Fanelia's people were strong. She felt honored to simply call them all friends.

She heard noise from her quarters' adjoining bedroom and chuckled silently. When her Mother had discovered the vast wardrobe Hitomi had been supplied with, she had insisted on going through ever dress to pick out the most appropriate gown for tomorrow's opening ceremony. She felt her Daughter's status on Gaia deserved nothing less than extraordinary. Hitomi felt nervous when she thought of what would happen in the morning. Van planned to make the announcement of their betrothal during the celebration, but Hitomi had yet to tell her family about this.

How would they react knowing she would never come home?

She was snapped out of her pondering by an almost quiet knock at her chamber door. She cast a quick look over to her bedroom, noting that her Mother hadn't heard the gentle rapping. Hitomi concentrated and stretched her heightened senses past the door, smiling when she recognized the mind just beyond.

*Come in, Van.* she beckoned mentally.

The door opened and the young Fanelian monarch walked in. He smiled lovingly at his fiancée as he walked up behind her. She was so ethereal standing at the window, bathed in the light of Gaia's twin moons. He was certain there were probably more lovely women on Gaia, but he was also sure none of them could radiate such assurance and such innocence. From the first moment he had laid eyes on her he knew she was special. Never once had she treated him like the sheltered Royal he had always been: learning to fight from guards who were too cautious to hurt him; being around advisors who made sure his every decision was covered with a thousand and one contingencies. She had treated him like a friend first. He smiled at a thought. A friend who deserved a slap across the face every so often to knock some sense back into him. That was why he loved her so much. She was never afraid to speak her mind or try things out on her own, much like he did. She was his equal.

"You never cease to amaze me, Hitomi." he whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her thin waist from behind.

She molded her back to his chest with a blissful sigh. "That makes two of us. The more time I spend on Gaia, the stronger my abilities become. The proof: my vision."

"Yes, a confusing vision. But we'll overcome it, just as we did all the others."

She smiled at his reflection in the windowpane. "I have no doubt of that."

A few minutes of comfortable silence passed as he held her tenderly, both savoring every awakened sensation as if it were their first and their last. She turned in his arms to wrap her arms around his torso, her face snuggled up against the side of his neck. She listened to the strong beat of his heart, savoring the feeling of security the sound gave her. She always felt so safe around him, but no more than now.

"You haven't told your family yet." he stated in a gentle whisper.

Hitomi sighed, knowing what he was referring to. "I don't know how to tell them that, when they go back to Earth, I won't be with them."

"Why won't you be with us?" Kanzaki Ushida demanded from the door to the bedchamber.

The young engaged duo faced her in surprise. They hadn't realized someone had been listening in on their conversation. Hitomi instinctively looked to Van for help and support in this, finding them both in his gentle, urging smile. She squared her shoulders slightly in resolve and turned to her Mother.

"Mom, you might want to sit down to hear what Van and I have to tell you. It'll explain why I'm here and why I wanted to have you, Dad, and Tai here as well."

With a growing look of dread, Ushida sat on one of the sitting room's small couches. Hitomi and Van sat across from her, hands laced together tightly. Ushida couldn't help but notice this. That, and they had been locked in each other's arms ever so tenderly not a moment ago when she had walked in. She looked at them for a moment before repeating her previous question.

"Why won't you be with us?"

Hitomi took a deep breath to calm herself. "Mom, Van wants me to stay."

Ushida felt a protective flash of anger well up within her aimed at the young King. "It's because of her powers! You're keeping her here because of them! You ordered her to stay!" she snapped at him hotly.

The young duo both blinked in surprise at this.

"No, Mom, you have it all wrong!" Hitomi stated quickly in Van's defense.

"Kanzaki-san, five years ago her powers might have been the reason for me to want to keep her here, but now I don't care about her abilities. Yes, I bless her for her visions, sixth sense and second sight, but I wouldn't care for her any less whether she had them or not."

Ushida blinked, her anger receding. "What… what are you saying?"

Her Daughter smiled. "Van didn't order me to stay, Mom. It wasn't an order. It was a proposal."

"A…? He…?" she stammered as she watched Van brush Hitomi's fingers to his lips with a slight smile. "Have you said this to your Father?" she suddenly questioned, her mind reeling at the news.

Hitomi looked apprehensive. "Not yet. I don't know how to tell him. To him, I'm still his little girl."

"Do you want me to talk to him about this for you?"

She brightened. "Then… then you approve?"

He Mother began to chuckle softly. "There's not much I can do to stop you in this, but of course I approve. Don't think a Mother doesn't notice all the looks the two of you were giving each other all day." She faced Van. "Do you truly love my Daughter?"

"More than life itself." he readily agreed, awed by the depth of his own feelings. His fiancée snuggled closer to his side as she smiled ever so lovingly at him. "Like I told her, letting her go five years ago had been the single most hardest thing for me to do in my life. I can't bare the thought of losing her again."

"And I don't want to leave, Mom." Hitomi added. "I want to stay on Gaia. I want to stay with Van. All these years you and Dad wondered why I was so quiet and withdrawn all of a sudden. The reason was I was away from the one man I love more that anything and anyone."

Ushida smiled, laughter and pride in her eyes. "You don't have to convince me of anything, I can clearly see everything in the both of you, your actions, your eyes." She smiled whimsically suddenly. "I must say, Hitomi dear, you couldn't have done better. A King!" and they all laughed softly. "I have been blessed to have been allowed to witness such a strong love, so I give you my blessing in this in return. Hitomi dear, I'll talk to your Father tonight and by morning you'll have his blessings as well."

She leapt from her seat and embraced her Mother in a tight and joyful hug. "You're the best, Mom."

She chuckled as she extracted herself from the embrace. "So you say. Well, I better go see your Father now. This may take a while to convince him." and she stood.

"And I have a few things to settle with Balthus." Van stated as he, too, stood. He smiled down at his future wife, tenderly tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I just needed to see you… to give me strength."

Hitomi smiled at him lovingly and stood to escort them both to the door. Whereas Ushida simply walked away in confidence, the young King hesitated, staying at the seer's side. He carefully cupped her cheek with one bare hand, his thumb gliding gently across her cheekbone. She nuzzled his palm with a blissful sigh, her eyes shutting on their own. Silently she wondered how a single touch from him could set her adrift on a sea of so many pleasant emotions. His breath suddenly caressed her lips only seconds before he kissed her. She didn't resist, didn't want to resist, only melted to his touch. She could hardly wait for the week to end.

In less than seven days she would become his wife.

* * *

Down the hall from the seer's quarters a pair of golden eyes scowled at the embracing pair. Seeing the Fanelian King kiss the witch from the Moon of Illusions decided Cadoma on her course of action. And she would have to implement it soon. Rumor in the palace was that he would soon announce his choice for Queen. She frowned a self-satisfied grin.

Tonight, a warning.

But what if he ignores the message? another voice queried.

Then We move on to the next stage. And We know the perfect people to do the job.

But will they agree to help you?

Of course! They're barbarians in it for the money and no one on Gaia has more than Naporia. The remaining Raiders will accept Our proposal. Besides, he'll love the chance to re-pay Lord Fanel. Revenge is something Sheahan does best.

To be Continued…