Disclaimer: I Don't own Escaflowne or it's characters. Any similitude 
with real life is merely a coincidence  
Chapter 2

I

t Still night... A long one "and it will become longer to me
once I get there" she thought. She moved easily through the
landscape full of plants and little nightly creatures, which
revealed themselves only by their particular sounds. It was a
peaceful night. The air was full with the essences of the
damp ground near the water, grass and flowers. 

She was walking without haste, for she knew what to
expect when she finally arrived to her destination. She was
bother about giving explanations: All that "important" people
wouldn't ever understand what had happened; all that they
cared for was the king, but not about this particular king's
feelings... They could not understand he was in love... They
didn't understand their king's negative to search for a
Queen... They didn't know their king's heart was so far away.
"It's Unavoidable" Merle Heaved a sigh when she realized
she had finally reached the palace. 

Many confused voices where heard coming out the
reunion Hall, expressions of surprise and irritation. Merle
had been preparing herself for this moment, and waited
patiently until someone, an apparently Authority among the
other men, made them keep quiet, just with the sound of his
strong voice.

Tell me Merle, What Happened? Where is the king? -
Yolza trusted Merle, because he knew she cared so
much for Van, maybe even more than she cared for
herself. 

 Lord Van left Gaea, Sir. 

 What kind of Silly joke is this, you...Cat! - A young man
interrupted. At the sound of these words, coming from
this nasty, arrogant... boy Merle's eyes opened wide in
rancor. 

"Sahu you little clot, How dare you to speak to me like
that?" - Sahu - Yolza's voice was full of reprobation 

It's the last time you speak to her like that. Do you
understand? On the contrary, I will have to make it clear. 

Merle couldn't hide the satisfaction from her face as
Sahu's face turned red of embarrassment. Suddenly, a male
figure that had not been noted by Merle came out from the
shadows of a corner where he was, revealing a familiar face
to her. His blue eyes went over hers 

Is he in the mystic moon Merle? 

 Sir Allen! - Merle's voice sounded cheerful.

 Tell me, is he going to bring her back? - Merle answered
with a movement of her head, making the tension grow
tight on the others, because they where the only ones
who understood what were they saying.

 Sir Allen, May I ask why have you come here in the first
place? - Allen's face went dark of preoccupation and,
remembering the cause of his visit didn't direct his
answer to Merle

 Sir Yolza, I have a very important matter to discuss with
the king, but... 

 Yolza - Sahu again - we Should be looking for the king
instead of wasting our time

 " This guy is a completely dull witted" - I have told you
Lord Van isn't anywhere on Gaea, he is in the Mystic moon.
- Merle couldn't control her temper this time, but Allen put his
hand on her shoulder gently, to take the word and prevent
her from going too far. 

Maybe you shouldn't worry that much about your king for
he has been there before, and he had always returned -
"and not alone" he thought.

 "Then it's true, I believed it was only a nice story
survivors from the war had made up, just for entertain the
children" - Well, for the time being, I think we will let things
just as they are right now, and tomorrow we'll take a
decision. Merle, please take the gentleman to his bedroom. I
will make the arrangements for your crew too. 

Thank you Sir.

 Sir Allen, please follow me, this way. 

Hitomi... She was one of a kind, She seemed to be so
fragile, and nevertheless she was who saved them all. He
remembered her green eyes, which, now he could
understand, were full of the devotion to Van. He noticed that
when Zaibach captured them, and Escaflowne's heart was
being removed... Hitomi's eyes were so expressive; she was
worried for the sake of Van. He could felt then, that Hitomi
felt something for Van, and He himself felt something for
Her. Allen interrupted the silence. 

Do you think Van is fine Merle? - Merle seemed worried
this time, as she realized one fact... 

 Well... I think he went after Hitomi... That's what he was
preparing to do when he disappeared

 Disappeared?

 He went off in a column of light, just as Hitomi did, but
he didn't do it that way before, he used Escaflowne that
time they reached Allen's guestroom. 

 Thank you Merle and Good Night. 

 Good Night too, Sir Allen.

 A soft clicks from the door "It's really beautiful" Merle
was watching the blue moon from a window. "Van". 

Allen was now truly worried, he knew very well, from it's
own experience, that being transported in a column of light,
didn't mean going to the Mystic moon, since they got
captured by Zaibach that way.

 "Van, you have to be back soon... Fanelia needs you
here in this moment" Allen was watching the mystic moon
too, as if he could find Van from that distance " I don't want
to talk about this matter with anyone else... Van, Fanelia
could be in danger if you don't come back soon" 

Allen Schezar's Soul weighed too much for a man of his
age... 



Hitomi awakened violently from her dream. She looked
around, investigating every corner, every shadow around
her; She had that sensation of being transported again. She
had to turn on the light to be sure of being in her bedroom. 

It was only a dream. 

Nevertheless she knew, she could feel it had been real,
she had felt that mysterious force, transporting her beyond
the sky, to Fanelia again. She tried to sleep again, but
realized she really didn't want to. Van's memory was just
where she fixed her eyes, in the endless space, beyond her,
beyond everything... no, she didn't want to sleep again and
loose that memory that brought peace to her soul. 

"Everything is fine, Hitomi. You have so much here... a
father a mother, a brother, friends... a work that you love...
and you can't lie to your self, you still miss him" she
accepted at the end, heaving a sight. 

Abruptly a Vision came to her: She could see a winged
angel calling her name, but he wasn't able to see her
because everything was so dark... It was Van, and he was
lost, looking for Hitomi, Absolutely lost. 

Van! Do you hear me? Van the pendant! Van, can you
hear me? 
�	 Hitomi? 

The vision fade away, Hitomi got up the bed and ran to
the phone, but she realized there was no one she could
call... 

" If only Allen and the others were here to help me...
Allen would know what to do... or... If I had my pendant I
could find him myself... oh Van! Where are you?" When she
returned the phone to its place she saw the newspaper
"Pacific Ocean" "Atl�ntida" "Van! What is going on?" 

The night was dying, and the air played with trees leafs.
Just the inanimate sound of the fridge, and the clock could
be heard inside. It was so cold.