Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Though Time and Space Separate Us... ❯ Together Once More ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sleep. It's just what the doctor suggested. Hitomi was not sure just how long she had been sleeping, but she knew she must get better. Of course she had not meant to kill herself. It was only to distract the bandits long enough so they could escape. She just hoped that Allen and Merle knew that too.

Hitomi dreamt. She saw Yukari and Amano-sempai. As she watched from a distance, they reached out and held each other close. They were so happy together. Hitomi had a sudden pang of jealousy. Why couldn't she be that happy? It wasn't fair that Yukari had such a great guy and she, Hitomi, was fighting even to be able to see her guy, who didn't even care to wait up for her. Yukari and Amano-sempai walked off together and Hitomi let them go. What was the point in chasing them? Their destinies were intertwined and she couldn't change that. What she could do was change her own. She promised that she would get better.

Suddenly, sleep left her and she was awake. Hitomi didn't stir and she kept her eyes closed, staring into the darkness of her eyelids. What had made her wake up?

She felt Merle holding her hand, but she let it go as the door shut. Hitomi could hear that, so this definitely wasn't part of her dream. Then she heard Merle's voice.

"Allen? Where's Lord Van?" she asked. Allen didn't answer. Instead he asked, "Is Hitomi awake?"

"No, I don't think so." They looked in Hitomi's direction and saw that she was still resting peacefully. Still, Allen said in a soft voice, "He couldn't come."

"Why not?" Merle implored. "Was he busy? Were you even able to see him?" Allen shook his head.

"The King of Fanelia... is getting married." Merle gasped. "What?!" she exclaimed.

Something inside Hitomi shattered into a million pieces. She began to hyperventilate, although she tried to suppress it so Allen and Merle wouldn't hear, she just couldn't help it. Her body began reacting to her mind as tears streamed down her face, dampening the pillow. Nothing she could do would stop it.

Just then, much to Hitomi's relief, the physician came in, declaring that they were too noisy and that the patients needed quiet. Silently, they took their leave and, as the door shut, Hitomi sat up straight in bed, her arms wrapped around herself.

H- How could he? She hadn't thought he would ever get married. Though it was inevitable, she knew, Hitomi just couldn't imagine it at all. Without a word, she touched her face and felt that it was streaked with tears. Had she really cried? Why had she cried? Wiping them away ashamedly, Hitomi turned the pillow over so no one would see it wet with her tears. She got up and gathered her blankets around herself. The window was open to provide fresh air for the patients. However, they were all sleeping, breathing in deeply, knowing they were being taken care of. Hitomi breathed in. Van was getting married. The truth flashed by in her mind several times before it would sink in. Hadn't she expected it to happen? She should have known that Van already had someone in his life. But still...

What will I do? Van doesn't need me after all... why did I even come to Gaea? Hitomi regretted that the bread knife she had packed had not been a sword... something more lethal, that would have killed her... but no. It had only left an ugly scar that she would have to look at for the rest of her life, to remind herself of her journey she had taken in vain. Was it for love? Concern? Or was it just for herself?

Hitomi lay back in bed, staring at the ceiling. As the sun began to set, the rays shone on her face, snapping out of her daze. She couldn't stay here. She had to do something. There is nothing left, Hitomi thought. She rose and, clad only in a nightgown, walked toward the door. Placing her hand on the doorknob, she paused. Everyone would see her. Suddenly, she wanted to be alone. Alone for real. For ever. Hitomi walked to the window again. She squinted against the sun's glare as it shed its last rays before nightfall. Then she remembered. Asturia had beautiful sea cliffs. She wanted to see them again, to become a part of them... forever.

She pushed the window open, squeezing the blankets together to form a rope that would lead her down the building. When she reached the bottom, Hitomi gathered up the blankets and folded them around her again. Night had already fallen as she made her way out of Herisia, looking behind her back and, upon seeing the friendly little lights in the town, silently apologizing to her friends. It had become cold so quickly after the sunset. Shouldering the blankets, she kept going, cutting her bare feet on the rocks as she travelled. I am so sorry everyone, she thought. I am so sorry.

Van sat in his study, pondering Allen's words. Was he telling the truth? Allen wouldn't lie, especially not when it came to an injured loved one. He held his head in his hands. Hitomi, why did you have to come back now? he thought in frustration. She was hurt, all because she had tried to see him. Would Faye understand if he said he had to go see her...? Van sighed. I won't be able to see her again after my marriage. He stood up, his decision made. I'm going to see Hitomi.

Suddenly, there came a knock to the door. Van went and answered it. Faye stood there, trembling, her arms wrapped around her body. Upon seeing Van, she jumped up and hugged him.

"Van! Thank goodness! When I heard you were attacked, I- I thought that-" she spluttered, burying her face in his shirt. Van put his arms around her.

"No, I wasn't hurt. It was only Allen Schezar, and he- he was a bit hysterical." he replied.

"Why?" she asked, stepping back to look at him.

"A- friend of mine has been hurt. The bandits of Asturia attacked her. I'm sorry, Faye, but I must go see her. Could we postpone our wedding for a week or two? Please?" Van implored, not sure what she would say in response. Faye gazed at him as if she couldn't believe his words.

"What a stupid question! Of course, Van, of course! What kind of wife will I be if I can't even let you see your sick friends? Go, Van. I'll wait for you here." Faye pushed him toward the door. Van was glad she understood.

"Thank you." he said quietly, bowing to her before he left the room. With that, he turned on his heel and made his exit swiftly.

He set out that very night, travelling past the wedding festivities, despite estranged looks from many people thinking why he would be going out so soon before his wedding. He didn't care. Allen was right, someone he loved was hurt, and he had to be there for her. Nothing else mattered.

Hitomi... wait for me... he begged silently.

Merle sat, washing herself after the short meal she and Allen had prepared. She had left early, though, to see how Hitomi was doing, but when she opened the door, Hitomi was not there! Merle began screaming for Allen and he rushed up immediately.

"Merle, what-" Allen started, but stopped when he saw the same thing; Hitomi, along with her bed sheets, was gone! Merle jumped onto Allen, clinging to him as she cried. Allen could only hold her, staring straight ahead at the empty bed.

"How could she be able to walk with her injuries?" Allen said to himself, just as much as Merle.

"Hitomi!!" Merle sobbed. She looked up at him. "We have to find her." She ran off, too fast for Allen to stop her. Looking after her for awhile, he sighed as he leaned his head on the wall. Why did all the women he loved have to die? Was it his touch or simply his own selfishness that killed them? He thought of Marlene, and even Millerna, both women of noble birth. Marlene was dead, not by any direct fault of his own but still... he felt some guilt for it, and Millerna was only safe from him now because of her marriage to Dryden.

"Damn it!" he voiced his thoughts as he banged his fist on the wall. His shoulders shook as he tried to stifle his sobs. In the distance, Allen heard a horse's whinny. He raised his head, walking swiftly to the window. A man on his horse galloped toward the clinic, descending even before he had a chance to stop properly. Allen's eyes widened. It was Van Fanel! He strode down to the waiting room and met Van as he entered hastily.

"Allen? Where's Hitomi?" he asked, trying to look past where Allen stood. Allen shook his head.

"Hitomi... she's gone." he said, staring at the floor. His hair covered his face so Van couldn't see the look of anguish upon it. Van stood up straight in disbelief.

"Gone? Gone where? What do you mean by gone?" he questioned. He still wasn't at eye level with Allen, but he approached him, looking at him with a kind of blaze in his eyes.

"I... I don't know." Allen turned away. Van turned his body toward the door and ran out, jumping onto his horse and urging it quickly onward. Allen rushed to the door, looking after him with his hand on the door frame for support. He hoped they both would be all right.

Hitomi, moving at the pace of a funeral march, made her way to the cliff. The cold wind seemed to blow from both sides, causing her eyes to water. As she reached the summit of the hill, she could hear the waves crashing below. Finally, upon reaching the edge, Hitomi slowly bent over and looked down. The spray lifted the hair from her forehead and cooled her face. She breathed in the sea air she had so come to love.

She stood up quickly and backed away from the edge, feeling like she was losing her nerve. I'm not going back to Earth. I'm going to die in this world. She scolded her cowardly thoughts and tried to think practically; Van was getting married, so he was happy. He didn't even know she was here looking for him, so of course he wouldn't know whether or not she had died. No one would be grieving over her.

Do it now, her mind told her. Now! Get it over with!

No, I can't! Hitomi shook her head, her tears mingling with the spray from the huge waves that met her face. I'm too afraid of what happens next, after I die! She looked up, hoping that someone would stop her, so that she would have an excuse not to die.

Van galloped down the dirt path, searching around for some sign of a girl-Hitomi- in the nearby woods. Suddenly, it started to rain hard and Van's hair became matted down with moisture. He spun his head in every direction, seeing nothing familiar. She could be anywhere. He slowed his horse to a stop so he could examine his surroundings. The forest seemed to envelope him as he stood there, looking around in hopelessness.

Hanging his head, he caught sight of her memento around his neck. Hitomi's pendant! She had taught him how to use it, so he could see through the Zaibach's soldiers' invisible cloaks and, as a result, he was able to fight them. Surely he could use the pendant to find Hitomi? Closing his eyes, he envisioned the swinging pendant in his mind. If he didn't waver at all, if he kept his attention focussed, the pendant in his mind would point in a certain direction... hopefully to where Hitomi was!

Suddenly, the pendant swung sharply to the east and an image of Hitomi flashed in front of it, lighting up the darkness his closed eyes produced. Abruptly, he pulled the reins so hard that his tired horse whinnied in protest. Ignoring it, Van pressed on in the direction the pendant he pointed him in, calling Hitomi's name. He started violently as he approached the treeline, spying a figure standing over the edge of the cliff, preparing to jump...

Go! Hitomi was still arguing with herself whether or not she should. Finally, the decision to die seemed so reasonable that Hitomi stood up straight, declaring to herself that the pain was only going to last for awhile and then it would be over. With that, Hitomi stepped back and leapt-

Did falling to your death feel this light? Hitomi smiled, closing her eyes as she felt the wind coupled with the ocean mist flowing through her hair... she spread her arms out, ready to embrace the ocean as her grave.

She didn't reach the ocean. Hitomi craned her neck, wanting to become one with the ocean. With effort, she opened her eyes and saw the ocean was quickly rushing away from her. She must be dead now... she was able to fly now, given the power of flight that was bestowed upon a human being after he passed on. Hitomi slowly turned her head to look behind her. She wasn't flying on her own! Someone held her close... a heavenly being with wings. An angel taking her to heaven, perhaps?

Hitomi looked up and saw the edge of the cliff but they didn't go beyond that. The two settled down from the sky softly to the ground. Hitomi gasped for breath, only realizing now that she had not really died, because she felt the heavy downpour raining on her body. She shivered, clinging to the angel who had saved her. The angel put his arms around her, giving her a warm feeling inside in spite of the cold rain. Finally, she turned her head upwards, to look upon his face.

It was Van who looked back at her, his eyes soft as he held her.

"Van!" she breathed. He nodded gently, bringing her in closer to his body. She wrapped her arms around him, grateful just for his closeness to her after all this time. The rain continued to soak them as Van stretched out his snowy wings and wrapped them around the two figures who, for the moment, didn't care about what had happened in the past year, and all the things they had done to deny each other; they were all insignificant details.