Vision of Escaflowne is owned by its respective company, not by Yuki Fanel

 

Untitled # 2

By Yuki Fanel

 

"The paintings...aren't they beautiful, oniichan?" she smiled as she pointed to one on the walls.

"Hai, imoutochan." Allen nods absently as he eyes his little sister with a smile.

 

    It has been years after Celena was set free from Dilandau and her mind has somehow matured. Peace had crowned the cities of Gaea and there seemed to be little trouble going on. No need for the guymelefs. No need for knights... Allen sighed wistfully, unaware of Celena's piercing blue eyes blinking at him.

"Oniichan? Are you alright? You don't seem well."

He tried to fake a laugh but it didn't sound convincing even to his own ears. He must practice that.

"I think you'd better get back to bed, oniichan. You never seem to get much sleep. No off you go..." she pushed him gently back to the halls where they came from.

"No, Celena. I'm ok!" Allen raised her an eyebrow as her tried to keep himself still.

"I insist!" her knitted eyebrows gave her an eager expression on the face.

 

    Those innocent eyes were so mesmerizing, he couldn't resist his own little sister. The peace must be really bothering him. It didn't seem so natural to him that he was forced either to pay attention to so much detail or space out.

"...hai..." he sighed exasperatedly.

 

    There was no saying 'no' to his imoutochan. When she gets her way, it never changes. He couldn't get mad at her and bring pain to her little heart. That was one thing he couldn't do.

 

    He absently walked through the halls until he reached his room. He pushed the oak door open and came to get a dreary feeling in his room. Dark sheets. Curtains that block out the sunlight... The only existing light was from the door. He sighed and went straight to bed. His body felt so tired... so tired of the peace. Maybe it was just now that he figured that silence could be so loud...so deafening...

 

He couldn't relax. There was so much in his mind but he didn't know what. He closed his eyes and willed himself to push the thoughts away. His mind wasn't clear... he needed it to be so... sleep was not so far...till it was right there...

 

***

 

Fire. He walked through the endless road trampled by corpses. He tried to sort his way through the torn limbs until he gave up and stopped.

"Oniichan...?" that voice...

"Celena?!"

"Oniichan...! Tasukete..."

 

The voice turned into a whisper... but he couldn't forget the desperation he found in the voice. She was near and he knew it.

 

Now he realized what he was searching for. Celena. The one whose innocence he must protect. He walked again and began his search. He cursed himself... Why was she in such a horrible place? Why did he leave her alone? A shadow of doubt clouded his thoughts.

 

    He couldn't see where he was going until he felt a sharp tug on his feet. He fell on the ground... The ground was flowing with warm blood. His weariness was brought anew. He felt a body on his side, pulsing with desperation... As he looked, he saw something he wanted to see last.

"Celena..." his tears threatened to flow...

"Oniichan...?"

"Celena...it's alright now. I'm here."

"I'm here...oniichan..."

 

He just realized that Celena's eyes were blank... The poor child... His stomach deepened in the horror... His vision was now clear. Blood trailed from her mouth... the ugly stench of death floated in the atmosphere... It drove him mad...

"NO!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"

 

    The pain and anguish... it was ripping him apart. He couldn't control his tears anymore...just by the sight of Celena... why? why was this happening to him? Questions flooded his mind and yet no answers came upon him...

 

***

 

Allen woke up screaming and thrashing violently in bed. Cold sweat trailed his body...the nightmare... He covered his face with his hands and cried... Celena...