Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Twisted Fates ❯ Whispered Lullabies and Silent Promises ( Chapter 4 )

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

Chapter 4 ~ Whispered Lullabies, and Silent Promises



The morning sun shone through the clear window. Hitomi stirred in her bed, but the gentle sunlight did not disturb her peaceful sleep. Birds started chirping outside her window, since life was about to resume its normal course. All of a sudden, Hitomi sat up in bed.
"Oh no, I'm late!" she cried. Hitomi scurried out of her bed, and quickly put on her clothes, and was about to head for the bathroom, when she realised this wasn't her house. She slowly remembered past night's events. "I love you, that's why." Came to her from a foggy memory. Did Van actually say that, or did she imagine it? Nah, she probably imagined it. Van considered her nothing more than his good friend. She was just the weird Phantom Moon girl that helped him win the Destiny war two years ago. He just came back to her because he needed help with remodelling his capital city. No more. She was just a friend to him. Hitomi wished she could have the same feelings for Van, because she knew his engagement to someone else would kill her. She now realised the magnitude of her love. She would do anything for him. Anything to have him there with her safe and sound. Oh well, until then, she would just have to accept his feelings of friendship. It was better than nothing. Who knew, maybe, just maybe, if fate wanted it they could be together.
"Get a grip on yourself Kanzaki, you're a hopeless romantic." She criticised her self and went to brush her teeth and take a short shower.
After Hitomi showered and dressed, she decided to go look for Merle, Van and the others. She wandered around the corridors of the hall, not finding anyone around.
"Excuse me, do you know where Lord Van, and Merle are?" Hitomi asked a servant girl.
"Yes miss. They went down to the village. They are renovating the orphanage house, as an order from Lord Van. You can find them there." The girl told her.
"Thank you, which way to the village?" Hitomi asked.
"Just follow the road from the castle." The girl told her.
Hitomi took her advice. She decided a good run would do her good. She couldn't wait until she got to the village. She wondered how much it had changed in two years. Hitomi's wish came true in a few minutes, when she entered the main square of the village. There, she saw a lot of building materials and men working. She searched the area for Van. She couldn't find him, but she spotted Merle in the middle of a group of children.
"Hey Merle, need help?" Hitomi asked approaching what was obviously a frustrated cat-woman.
"Hey, sleeping beauty! Did you decide to wake up already?" Merle asked, as she tried to manage the group of children.
"Yeah, no one woke me up, that's why I slept in." Hitomi argued.
"Those were Lord Van's orders." Merle said frowning. One of the children had pulled her tail. "Hey, who told you to pull that?" Merle screamed at the little child.
Hitomi couldn't help but laugh. Merle was in over her head.
"Need any help?" Hitomi asked laughing.
"Yes, please take some of these brats off my hands!" Merle said exasperated.
"Hey, they're not brats. And I'd think you'd have a lot in common with their behaviour." Hitomi teased.
"I don't care, as long as you take some of them off my hands. Lord Van left me to babysit, while he goes and helps with the construction. Now I wish I'd traded places with him." Merle said.
"Here, let me help you. I'll take this half of the kids," Hitomi said splitting the group in half. "Kids, how would you like to go for some refreshments?" she asked.
There was a unison agreement, and Hitomi took the kids to get some fruits, and a drink. She loved children, and she felt she had more common ground with these than with any other children she met. They, like her, had lost their family. All they knew was the love of the nuns caring for them. Hitomi didn't mind sharing her love with them. She knew it was the most precious thing one could have. Hitomi smiled lovingly at the children. They looked at her anxiously.
"Drink your drinks slowly, because they are cold." She told them before getting them the drinks.
"Can you please help me open my fruit?" a little girl came up to her with a red looking fruit as they were all snacking.
"Sure, Hitomi said gently. Here," she broke the fruit in half. "Is this all right?" Hitomi asked, having no idea what the fruit was.
"Yeah. You're not from here." The little girl observed.
"You're right, what gave me away?" Hitomi laughed.
"Well, your clothes, and the fact that you're looking at the cantaloupe like it's from the moon." The little girl said.
"I'm from the Phantom Moon, I'm only visiting here. My name is Hitomi." Hitomi told the little girl.
"So you're the seer from the Phantom Moon everyone has been talking about. You do know that Lord Van likes you, so you better be nice to him. He's a very nice person." The little girl said making a face
Hitomi felt her face burn. Did she hear the little girl right? Nah, she dismissed the theory. She was just a child, and those were just some rumours. It was a nice thought though...
"Aren't you a little small to be worrying about that?" Hitomi said brushing the little girl's long curly hair.
"Well, that's what they say. Here, try some fruit." The girl said and handed her the untouched half of the fruit.
"Thank you, how very kind." Hitomi said and sat down to eat the fruit. She decided she liked the little girl. She was sharp for a child her age. "So what's your name?" Hitomi asked munching on some fruit.
"Leia." The little girl said.
Hitomi smiled at her, and the girl smiled back. "How about we go play some games now?" Hitomi suggested seeing how everyone had finished eating.
The rest of the morning passed playing games. Hitomi decided she liked the children very much. They were energetic, and funny at times. She adored watching and playing with them. They were all such darlings. At lunch-time, recess was called. Hitomi took the children back to their Protectors (that's what the nuns caring for them were called). A temporal place was set up for them to rest. The little ones fell asleep after lunch, tired from all the playing and from the heat.
"Hitomi, can you put me to sleep?" Leia came up to her. Hitomi was resting in the shade having finished her lunch.
"Sure, having trouble sleeping?" Hitomi asked.
"Not really, can you hold me in your arms?" the little girl asked.
"Yeah, come on." Hitomi held Leia in her arms. The little girl was just so sweet. "Would you like a lullaby?" Hitomi asked.
"Would you? I would really appreciate it." Leia told her. "My mom used to sing me lullabies all the time until she died." The little girl said sadly.
"Hmm, you miss her don't you?" Hitomi asked rocking the girl gently in her arms.
"Sometimes. I can't really remember her though. I know she was very kind, and had a soft voice." Leia said rubbing her eyes.
"I'm sure she loves you very much, and still watches you from heaven." Hitomi said giving the girl a peck on the forehead. She knew exactly how the little girl felt. She missed her mother very much also. "Come on now, let's put you to sleep." Hitomi told the girl cheerfully.
Sitting under the shade, Hitomi sang to the girl her favourite lullaby, while rocking her slowly. Hitomi's crystal voice resonated charmingly across the village.
Dancing bears,
Painted wings,
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory...


When the girl started breathing regularly, Hitomi stopped singing. That lullaby always worked. She smiled looking at the sleeping child
"You sing beautifully," Van said behind her.
"Van! You scared me to death! What are you doing here?" Hitomi asked surprised by his apparition.
"I was taking a break, and wanted to see how you were holding up. Merle told me you were playing with the children. That's very kind." He said, sitting down beside her.
"I want to help too. I don't want to sit on my butt all day and do nothing. I love playing with the children. They are all so sweet, and we have lots in common." Hitomi said looking up into his chocolate eyes.
"Hmm... I know what you mean. It's really unfortunate. The war did all this. That's why I hate fighting so much." Van's jaw clenched.
"I know, but we destroyed the evil." Hitomi said placing her hand on top of his.
"Yes we did." Van said blushing because of her hand. "Hitomi, I promise that there'll be no sadness during your stay on Gaea." Van said.
"Well, I'm just happy to be here. Let's hope I won't cause anymore trouble." Hitomi smiled, touched by his sweet confession. Maybe he did care about her. But then again, maybe he was just a concerned friend.
"You never caused any trouble before. I'll make sure you have a happy time. You deserve it." Van said. "I'll win your heart Hitomi. Just you watch." He thought.
"Thank you Van. I, I am at a loss for words. I can't express my gratitude enough." Hitomi told him.
"Don't say anything. You don't need to thank me. I'll be glad to be your tour guide of Gaea. You never really got to see it before. This time, I promise you, no more wars." Van told her quietly.
Leia stirred in Hitomi's arms.
"I guess I better take her inside." Hitomi observed. She stood up gently as not to wake the child.
"Oh, I'll do it." Van offered.
"Are you sure? You look a little pale." Hitomi said looking at his face. It was true. Van looked as if he were to get sick any second. She didn't like the paleness of his skin.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just the heat that's got us all drenched and pale. I'll take her." Van reassured.
"Ok," Hitomi agreed. "I have to go talk to Merle." She said and gave him the sleeping child.
Van took little Leia in his arms. She was sleeping peacefully. Hitomi and he parted. Van was taking the child inside where it wasn't so hot.
"Don't give up on her Lord Van. She likes you a lot. She's just afraid to show it." The sleeping child said opening one of her supposedly sleeping eyes.
Van turned a deep shade of red. "Don't you know it's not nice to eavesdrop?" he asked amused at the innocence of the child.
The girl did not say anything, either falling asleep for real, or pretending like before.
~~~~~~~~
A few more hours had passed since lunch-time, when Hitomi prepared a tray of refreshments to bring to the men working up on the roof.
"Here you go. I thought you might like a little refreshment in this heat." She said as she got up the ladder.
"Thank you little lady." The men gestured, and each took the drinks prepared.
"Van, are you ok?" Hitomi asked. His face looked pale, and he just didn't look well.
"Yeah, I told you, I'm fine." He told her.
"I don't believe that. Maybe you being here, in this heat is not good." She insisted.
"I'm fine, believe me. I'm just feeling a little hot." He said taking off his shirt.
"Let me feel your forehead." Hitomi said, putting her hand on his forehead before he could protest.
"You're burning up, maybe you should let the others do this." She suggested.
"Are you saying I'm not man enough?" Van asked, a little upset by her insistence.
"No, I'm saying that you might have a fever, and that you should let others do this." Hitomi stubbornly clung to her idea.
"No, the king of Fanelia doesn't give up. Are you saying I should be a quitter?" Van asked madly feeling his pride getting hurt in front of the men, since a woman was brooding over him.
"No, if you want to be such a stubborn ass, I'm not going to argue with you. I just think it's better if you would take care of yourself and stop trying to show off. Fanelia needs a king, not a jackass." Hitomi said madly. She just hated it when someone tried to show off in front of others. She spun around on her heels and left madly. "What do I care if he dies?" she muttered to herself. She knew she would care. She would probably go insane if he died too. She had enough of death. He was just so stubborn! Hitomi wanted to go choke him, and tell him why she was so worried. Instead, she just walked away.
Van watched her go. He heard her last remark, and although he didn't show it, he was deeply hurt. "So she doesn't care if I die huh?" He thought hotly. Why was he even trying, when she seemed not to care? When she just walked off like that. Deep inside his heart, Van knew Hitomi had done it all out of care for him, but right now he was too upset to listen to reason. He felt embarrassed in front of the men. Even if they didn't say anything, he knew how things went. They would be snickering at him most likely. And Hitomi didn't care. It was the thing that hurt him most. Maybe she was too changed for him to try to get her to enjoy life. What if he was trying in vain? Deep in his heart he knew that he would love her no matter what, but in his present state, he decided he did not give a damn about Hitomi Kanzaki, the girl with the sad green eyes.
~~~~
Later that night, the work at the village having been finished, Hitomi couldn't help but prowl the palace like a tiger in a cage. She felt horrible about treating Van that way. What came over her? She kept on going over the moment when she had exploded at him. What possessed her to do that? Van wasn't at dinner. She wondered what was wrong with him. Hitomi decided that she needed to apologise, so she headed for his room. On her way there, she met a servant girl carrying a tray of food.
"Who is that for?" Hitomi asked.
"Lord Van. He's sick in bed with a fever." The girl answered.
"Oh no, he did get sick!" Hitomi exclaimed. "Here, give me that. I want to take it to him." She ordered.
"No, you're not a servant. A lady must not do servant work." The girl said.
"Please. I hold no title here. I want to do this." Hitomi insisted. She took the tray from the woman's hands before the woman could do anything.
Hitomi examined the items on the tray. They were all very dry, and not nutritional. The poor kid was sick with a fever. He most likely had a cold, so these items would scratch his throat. She took the food back to the kitchen, and had the cook give her some hot soup, a hot "cocoa" Gaean style, and a soft piece of cake. Those would be enough. She then made her way to Van's room. She knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" he heard an anxious voice from inside.
"It's your food milord." Hitomi said mimicking a servant.
"It's about time, come in." she heard Van say.
Hitomi entered the room. Van was in bed, with a cold cloth on his forehead. Hitomi blushed when she saw his half-naked body.
"It's you. What are you doing here?" he asked sourly, remembering their last encounter.
"I didn't come to scream at you, although I should. You reckless boy! I came here to take care of you." Hitomi told him smiling.
"I don't need your help. Merle will do just fine." Van said turning towards the wall.
"Van, stop acting like a spoiled child. You're sick, and I'm here to take care of you. Now turn around." Hitomi ordered sternly.
"Since when's it to you?" Van asked bitterly.
"Oh Van," Hitomi pleaded realising he was sour at her. "I didn't mean what I said and you know it. I was worried something like this may happen that's all. Come on, you got to eat something. The fever is dehydrating you." She pleaded.
Having had his confirmation, Van turned towards Hitomi. She sat down beside him, and wet the cloth on his forehead.
"Look at you. You're burning up," she observed. "Would you listen to me? No! Now you had to go get yourself sick!" she said, concern in her voice.
Van looked at her, as she methodically wiped his forehead. She looked truly worried about him. Maybe she did care. In any case, he could feel himself blush from her touch. After giving him some awful tasting medicine, and the soup, Hitomi brought out something else.
"Here, now that you've been so co-operative, you get this." She gave him a soft chocolate piece of cake.
"Hmm, my favourite, how did you know?" he asked.
"That's my little secret," Hitomi smiled mischievously.
Van laughed, the cake was awesome. Just then, he started shivering.
"Oh no, it's the fever," Hitomi said getting up to get more blankets.
"I'm cold," Van said, his teeth clattering.
"I know, here have some more medicine." Hitomi said, giving him a pill. She then proceeded on wrapping him in blankets to keep him warm. Putting more logs on the fire, she sat beside him again.
"Thanks." Van said, feeling a little better.
Hitomi felt his forehead again. It was a little cooler, but still too warm for her liking. She wetted the cloth again.
"Don't worry, you're going to live." She told him.
"I was afraid of that." Van grinned.
"You should try to sleep. It will do you good." Hitomi told him.
"Aww, but it's so hard to sleep without a lullaby." Van said grinning wolfishly.
"You're a big boy, you can sleep without a lullaby," Hitomi said brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"Nope, I can't. I need a lullaby." Van said with puppy eyes.
"Ok, fine," Hitomi said rolling her eyes. Van was being silly. She started singing, but Van stopped her.
"Tsk Tsk Tsk. You're a bad babysitter. Don't you know you have to rock the child?" he asked amused.
"I'm no bad babysitter. You're no child. And how am I supposed to rock you?" Hitomi asked smiling strangely. This little game amused her more than she showed.
"Hmm... well how about you get in beside me and just hug me?" Van suggested.
"Oh, you are such a baby. Fine, if you'll shut up and go to bed." Hitomi agreed.
She got in beside Van, and made sure he was tucked in properly. Hitomi felt his arms wrap around her waist, and for the first time she was happy Van wasn't staring at her. Hitomi's face was crimson red. Then she sung him the same lullaby she sung Leia. Hitomi felt Van go into a deep sleep. She stopped singing, and carefully got out of his bed. It was better that way. She put more logs on the fire, and wiped his forehead again. Then she got a chair and sat beside him, feeling his forehead constantly.
"You're going to be fine," Hitomi whispered. "I love you so much, I could never let you suffer." She thought.
~~~~~
"This is working out better than I though!" giggled Merle from a dark corner.
The cat-girl had witnessed the episode between Van and Hitomi. She could see that they both loved each other very much. It was all a matter of getting them together now. Two very shy and stubborn people. She chuckled. It was a job she would enjoy very much.
Merle walked away skipping happily. They looked so cute together!!!! She sighed, hoping Lord Van would feel better in the morning.