Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Two souls ... two destinies ❯ To follow thw heart ... or to keep on your mind? ( Chapter 7 )

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

Disclaimer: Here I go again! Everyone knows I don't own Escaflowne. I
think its Sunrise propriety (Lucky guys!).

But, I have my own fan fiction ("like a lot of people do!" - "Oh shut
up!"), this is mine, and the characters I created of course! Didn't
you read it? Van, Hitomi, Merle ... and so far ... the people that
originally appear on the shows, or mangas, or whatever, are not mine.
But of course the story is, and I have my rights. I DEMAND YOU TO READ
MY FAN FICTION AND THAN REVIEW! Ok, sorry! I didn't mean to scary you.
I JUT WANT SOME REVIEWS. I know it sucks. ("How many times have I said
that in the previous six chapters?").

Well anyway, enjoy your reading!

The vision of Escaflowne: Two souls ... two destinies

Chapter 7: To follow the heart, or to keep on your mind?

#Previously, Marta (Why is this thing always about Marta? Can't this
girl stay still for a while and give place to Hitomi or Van or anyone?
Ok! I forgot! SHE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER! OH GOD, SHE IS GOING TO KILL
ME. Or worse you're going to kill me cause I was not suppose to be
writing this. Sorry folks! Anyway I hope to soon have some pictures
added. So you can see the stupid faces of my characters! But like my
mom always said, I'm the only stupid in here and this is getting too
long. I'm sure you stopped reading while ago, but the story continues
...) Ok: Previously Marta got scared cause someone called her voice.
Who could that be? The opera's ghost? NA! I don't think so. Umh, let's
see, oh yeah! I got the perfect guy to scare Marta out of the way. And
here he comes! ... Or here she comes! Who cares! #

"Marta!" - Marta gave a small `jump' from hearing her name. She looked
around but saw no one.

"Who's there?" - finally, Christina came out and hugged Marta in
desperation. She had her eyes red from being crying. - "Christina?!
What happened?"

Christina calmed herself down and than spoke. - "Sano is mad at me
cause I told him that in the first day I came here ... I got a crush
on Van and tried to make him make love with me!" - she grabbed Marta's
collar. - "He thinks I made love with him, thinking of Van. But that
isn't true ... I swear!" - she started crying again. Marta tried to
calm her but it was all in vain.

"Christina, come to my room! There we can talk." - Christina nodded
and followed. After telling Marta the whole story Christina was calmer
and went to her room. After Marta had promised to her, that she would
talk with Sano the next morning.

Marta jumped to the bed and almost immediately felt asleep.

~*~*~

Outside:

Hitomi and Zardus looked at the stars, they were laid in the grass,
with their arms behind their heads.

Zardus observed Hitomi from the corner of his eye. She was beautiful,
but he couldn't let anything come between him and Fanélia's throne.
Yet he couldn't deny the need he had to kiss her.

He turned to her; he rested his head on his left hand. She looked at
him and smiled.

"Say ..." - Zardus started. - "Are you in love with Van?"

Hitomi blushed a little. - "No!"

"Allen?" - she laughed under his question.

"Even less!" - he placed his right arm over and around her waist.

"So ... I think no one will kill me for kissing you!" - he leaned over
to kiss her. She closed her eyes and placed her arms around his neck.

His kiss was soft, and yet passionate. He had no hurry; he explored
every corner of her lips. Finally he separated her lips with his
tongue and they started kissing in a more `wild way'.

They were almost `eating' each other. Each was the others water
fountain, and they needed to drink the more water they could.

None of them wanted to stop, but then Zardus heard some footsteps. He
leaned up, against Hitomi's wish. She stoop up and grabbed his right
arm.

"Is there something wrong?" - she asked seeing his concerned look.

"I thought I heard someone!" - he looked from one side to the other,
trying to find someone. - "I'd better get going! It's late and you
should go to sleep!"

She made an annoying face but still, she had to agree with him. -
"Than have a good night Zardus!" - she gave him a last kiss and run to
her room. Zardus smiled and got on his way to his underground
fortress.

~*~*~

Next morning, Marta's room:

Marta was still sleeping, grabbing her pillow tightly. Van entered
without making any noise. He wanted to surprise her. Well he was the
one to be surprised, cause at this time she would have to be awake.
But she wasn't! He smiled seeing how she grabbed her pillow. Like it
was the precious think in the world.

He looked at her bed-time-table (or whatever you call that!) there was
her necklace, her ten silver bracelets and a blue chain that she used
to put around her waist. Plus there it was also her clock. Van looked
again at her. She was sleeping deeply. Than he noticed another
`tattoo' as she called it. It was a tiger that was also asleep. This
one was on the back of her right shoulder. He sat next to her. She
looked even beautifully when she was asleep. He slightly touched her
face and than her hair. He moved his head close to hers (in another
words: his lips close to her hear).

"Marta! Wake up darling, you're late for breakfast with Van!" - Marta
moaned a little, rolling over the bed and turning her backs on him. He
smiled and then decided to play with her. He picked her up and turned
her face to his. Then he whispered at her.

"If you don't get up now, I'll kiss you and you'll hate for the rest
of your life!" - she moaned again and didn't opened her eyes. Van
placed his right hand over her waist and leaned over to kiss her. She
opened her eyes and dropped Van to the floor.

"What the HELL do you think you're doing?"

"Can't say I didn't warn you!" - he made a scoffing smile. He got up
and grabbed her shoulders pulling her against her bed, again. - "I
want you to take breakfast with me, so calm dow..." - he was
interrupted when Marta gave him a kick on the ... not in the ass ...
not in the face ... but on a place where every men hate to be kicked
in. Van yelled in pain and knelled on the floor. Marta got up.

"Sorry Van, but you were asking for it!" - she went to the bathroom,
Van was still on the floor, yelling in pain. « The girl is strong! God
damn her!» (Van thought) - "I'll leave you while I get dress, than we
can have breakfast."

"Yeah! Can't wait till then!" - he leaned on the floor, still in much
pain. (Poor Van!)

After a while she came out, Van was seating on the edge of her bed. He
looked at the floor and didn't move a muscle when she came out.

Her face turned to sadness when she saw him. She knelled next to him
and put her hands on his knees.

"Hei Van! I'm sorry! I know that hurts, but you shouldn't try to kiss
me that way!"

"I was just kidding. I did not intended to really kiss you!" - he said
not looking at her.

"Well, I'm not a witch!" - she pulled him on to the bed and hugged
him, putting her head on his chest. - "Sorry! I'll never do that again
... I promise!" - he smiled and putted his arms around her. They stood
there for quite a while. Than they gone out, to have breakfast.

~*~*~

Marta and Van were at the dinning-room, having breakfast, when the
door suddenly opened. Van started coughing and Marta realized he had
he had choked and started laughing. Hitomi was the one to enter and
also started laughing. Van was having a bad time, finally Marta gave
him a punch on the back and he stopped coughing.

"Finally!" - he said, breathing heavily. - "Did you intend to kill or
something, Marta? What took you so long?" - Marta smiled and turned
her face to the opposite side of him. Hitomi seated on in front of
Marta, on the left side of Van, that was on his royal seat (of
course).

"Shut up Van! You should've seen your face!" - she started laughing
again.

"Oh yeah! Really, really funny!" - he crossed his arms and turn his
face to Hitomi.

"You two ... cut it out, ok? Why are you two always fighting?" -
Hitomi said, starting to drink her juice.

"It's her fault!" - Van said still looking at Hitomi.

"IT'S HER FAULT? You look like a baby Van Fanel!" - she turned to him
again.

"Shut up! The only baby in here is you!" - he said turning to her
again. - "And besides I will not fight with you again! I'd like to
have my breakfast in peace." - he started `eating up' some cookies.
Marta, to struggle him started eating them too, but soon stopped.

"Marta! Can I talk to you after breakfast?" - Hitomi asked, finishing
her juice.

"Yes, of course! Everything but being with this guy!" - Van lifted an
eyebrow and drunk the rest of his juice noisily. Marta put her hands
on her ears.

"VAN! You're such a gentleman!" - finally he stopped. - "I don't know
why do all the girls in Gaea want to marry such a pig as you." -
Hitomi's time to start coughing.

"Look, Marta! WHO THE HELL GAVE YOU PERMISSION TO TALK TO ME LIKE
THAT?" - he stood up, and declined over her. She showed no fear and
smiled.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" - he stood there for a while, just
looking at her and than leaved.

"Next time watch out for what you say!" - he opened the door that
leaded to the corridor. - "I'm not that benevolent." - he left and
Marta understood she had gone too far. She looked at the floor. Hitomi
approached from behind.

"He is too proud! He did not mean it, I'm sure he will came to you in
least that nothing!"

"No Hitomi! I've gone too far this time! I shouldn't have said that!"
- Hitomi pushed her and the two went out of the room.

"Don't worry! He will be fine ... you'll see!" - Hitomi said, grabbing
Marta's hand and pulling her to the balcony that surrounded the whole
palace.

~*~*~

A man with the darkest soul you could ever imagine, took his seat on
his Guymelef. This was a grey Guymelef, with some golden adjustments.
The Guymelef was on his `foot' and the man inside put on the invisible
cloak of the Guymelef. It disappeared and than the man released a
scary and stupid laugh, than he pressed the teletransportation button.
He was on his way to Fanélia.

~*~*~

"Tell me Hitomi ... did you ever loved Van?" - Marta asked, as they
were surrounded by the shiny and warm light that the sun brought.

"Yes!" - she said looking down.

"Then, when did you stopped loving him?" - she stopped, so they could
speak calmly.

"At the same time that I stopped communicating with him." - she
admitted.

"And when was that?" - Marta stood against the banister.

"When my family died, eight months ago!" - now the two looked at the
floor.

"I'm sorry! I know how it fells to lost our family." - Hitomi looked
up at Marta.

"You lost your family too?" - she asked curious.

"Yes! When I was six! Then I gone to an orphanage till I was twelve!"

"What happened then?"

"Well ... I was adopted by a bunch of crap! Couldn't wish for worst in
my life." - Marta craved her nails on the banister. (Poor banister!
She has incredible huge nails, you know? Baka (= idiot, stupid, or
something like that)! You are a baka Marta! Ups, sorry! I did it
again!)

"Why? What happened?" - Marta look up at Hitomi and released a heavy
sigh.

"Then was when I got my wicked experience!" - she said, somewhat
sarcastically.

"What do you mean with wicked?" - she said lifting an eyebrow.

"I mean... being abused every day during three fucking years." -
Hitomi couldn't breath.

"Th ... thr ... THREE YEARS?" - she said almost collapsing in the
floor.

"That was when he didn't decide to fuck me four or five times a day!
Mostly when his wife was out in business trips." - Hitomi couldn't say
a word for some time. She was too shocked.

What Marta or Hitomi didn't knew was that Mister Van Slanzar de Fanel
was listening to all, and he was also amazed (to say the least) by
Marta's confession.

"Why didn't you get to the Police?"

"First, cause he said he killed me if I did it, and second ..." - she
released a heavy sigh and looked at the beautiful city of Fanélia, now
completely rebuilt after the Great War. - " ... Cause if I did so, I
would have no place to go! It's rather difficult to find a family,
especially when you are already twelve years old!" - Hitomi lifted her
right hand to her mouth, not to scream.

"God! How can there exist people like that fucking son of a bitch?" -
Marta was still looking out, but than she faced Hitomi again.

"There are more than you can imagine Hitomi! The world ... our world,
is not a paradise. I think it is the Hell on Earth!" - she gave Hitomi
a small smile. - "But don't worry! I got out of there as soon as I got
the 9º. Never saw him again ... fortunately!"

Van was still petrified with the whole thing. He knew that she had
been abused ... but that abused! He never thought that could ever
happen.

He looked out and saw the arm of a Guymelef, aiming at the two girls.
He ran towards them, and they collapsed to the floor, right in time
not to bee killed by the metal claws that destroyed part of the palace
façade.

"ALERT! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" - Van run to the main door, followed by
the two girls, who were still scared like hell.

When they got out of the palace, they saw a grey and golden Guymelef
standing still. Finally a voice from inside it spoke. It was a creepy
voice; it seemed like from a man in his fifty's.

"Van Slanzar de Fanel, I suppose?" - he said while releasing a stupid
laugh.

"What do you think you're doing?" - Van yelled from bellow.

"Well, I'm accomplishing orders! But now I'll have to leave."

"Wait a second, you're not going anywhere!" - Van said, absolutely
pissed off.

"And who's going to stop me?"

"I ..." - Van stopped as soon as the Guymelef disappeared in the air.
- "God damn! More troubles to come!" - he cursed himself and closed
his hands tight, soon he started bleeding.

With the whole thing, Marta didn't even notice that Van could have
listened to her conversation with Hitomi. What was very good for him,
cause if she had noticed it, he would be in big troubles. She didn't
even notice that Hitomi was grabbing her arm like she was her survival
boat, or something.

"What was that for anyway?" - Marta asked, seeing Van's angered face.
He looked at her and understood that she hadn't released that he had
been observing them both. He gave a small sigh.

"I don't know! Maybe it was a warning." - he admitted, looking at his
bleeding hands.

"You're so stupid!" - she approached him and she cutted off a part of
her dress, so she could tie his hands. Only now she released that
Hitomi was holding her arm. She smiled, seeing her scared face. - "You
can let me go now, Miss Hitomi!" - Hitomi looked up and blushed at the
same time that she let go of Marta's arm. - "There you go, Mister Van
Fanel! Next time, be careful, will you?" - he looked at her with
sorrow in his eyes. Her words still floating in his mind.

«So young, and she has suffered so much!» - he wanted to hug her, but
than the others came out.

"What happened?" - Sano asked, pulling off his sword.

"Too late Sano!" - Van said. Marta saw him (Sano) and decided this was
the moment to talk to him.

"Sano, I'd like to talk to you for a moment!" - she pulled him of the
crowd, to the lagoon.

"But Marta ... I'm not in my break yet!" - he said, not making too
much of an effort to stop her.

"I'm sure Van doesn't mind if I took you for a little walk!" - Finally
they got there. They sat on the grass. - "Sano, I'm sorry but I
promised someone I would talk to you, today!" - he looked down and his
expression was of sadness.

"It was Christina, wasn't it?" - he asked. Anger could almost be
touched.

"Yes! Look, I think she really likes you ... she came to me crying
yesterday!"

"And what about me! I have my proud you know?" - he gave a small sigh.
- "She used me ... I liked her and she used me to satisfy her needs
TOWARDS VAN!" - Marta vacillated a little, but than continued.

"You know Sano? Sometimes things are not what they seem. I'm sure she
didn't make love to you thinking of Van. She has many failures, but
yet, I don't think she would do that. I'm sure she wouldn't!" - Sano
and Marta looked at each other and than smiled. - "Think you could
give her another chance?" - she said cheerfully.

"Well ... maybe!" - they smiled and left, towards the palace.

~*~*~

On the outskirts of Asturia:

"Sotskí, where have you been?" - Ureshiú looked angered. The man, had
around fifty years old, weird face, weird behaviour, but yet he was
one of Zardus most skilled men.

"I'm sorry my lady. I had some business to deal with!" - he made a low
courtesy to her. She sighed.

"Zardus is waiting for you at the meeting room. You'd better hurry or
he will not like!"

"I'm on my way! Thanks My lady." - he started walking, thought the
dark corridors of Zardus' underground fortress. He knew that Zardus
wouldn't be pleased with his missing.

He opened the door, and there stood Zardus and Sorú.

"Sotskí! Finally! Where have you been?" - Zardus asked, interrupting
his conversation with Sorú.

"Around My Lord!" - he said lowering his head.

"Well ... never mind! Are your troops right for fighting to night?"

"Yes, everything is as it should be Zardus!"

"I hoped so! Prepare your men! We'll leave at seven!" - Sotskí made a
low courtesy and exited the room.

"I don't trust him Zardus!" - Sorú finally pronounced.

"We can give him a credit, can't we?" - Zardus turned around and
leaned over the wall. - "You know he is too good to be put aside! Now
you can go and prepare your troops."

"Yes Zardus!" - Sorú left the room, and Zardus stood thinking ...
about Hitomi!

~*~*~

Outside Fanélia's palace:

"At least he only destroyed part of the façade, and it was not the
main ... or else ..." - said one of the many men that were `counting'
the cost of the attack.

"I thought that they didn't want to destroy the city!" - said another
that picked the `hand' of a broken statue.

"Freaks!" - other exclaimed.

"You three can be quiet! There are here people that are trying to
work!" - Kokato came furious to the three `talkers'.

"Sorry! We'll keep on working!" - the three immediately spread out and
restart their work.

"Backas!" - Kokato said almost as a whisper, and slightly massaging
his tempers.

~*~*~

Van, Allen and Dryden were reunited in the meeting-room, while Merle,
Celena and Mirana were outside, observing the damages, still amazed.

Marta and Hitomi were at Hitomi's bedroom. Marta was seating on the
edge of the bed, while Hitomi was choosing a new dress, cause hers was
all ruined from the previous attack.

"What do you think of this one?" - she asked, hanging up a white
dress, with dark-pink bodice, without sleeves.

"I think it's fine! Everything looks beautiful in you Hitomi!" -
Hitomi blushed and Marta smiled. She decided to change the subject. -
"So ... you haven't told me why you wanted to talk to me!"

"Oh, yes!" - she put the dress on the chair and sat on the bed, next
to Marta. - "Last night ... when you left me and Zardus ..." - she
blushed even more, and looked down.

"Yes ..." - Marta said smiling. (Cause she knew exactly what she was
going to say)

"Well, we ... kissed."

"Oh that's great! My plan worked!" - Marta gave a hug on Hitomi.

"Your plan?" - Hitomi asked concerned.

"Well, it was not on purpose, but I left you alone cause you needed
some ... privacy."

"Oh, you big ..." - Hitomi started tickling Marta and she couldn't
stop laughing.

"Stop it Hitomi ..." - someone knocked at the door and they stopped.

"Come in! The door is open." - Hitomi said. The door opened and they
saw ... Christina.

"Excuse me Hitomi, but I was looking for Marta." - she turned to
Marta. - "I need to talk to you for a second!" - Marta saw that she
wasn't very happy. What could have happened?

"Ok! Hitomi, see you later!" - Marta got up and followed Christina to
the training-room. Marta closed the door and faced an even more sad
Christina.

"What's going on Christina?" - she asked concerned.

"Have you talked to him?" - she asked looking down at her feet.

"Yes! He said he was going to think about it."

"I see ..." - Christina turned around and picked up some arrows and a
bow. - "I don't like training alone ... make me some company, will
you?" - Marta smiled, when Christina started aiming at the target.

"With pleasure!" - she picked up her favourite and unique weapon, but
she noticed she couldn't practice alone. - "Backa! Christina I'll go
get Van! I come back in a minute." - she said running out from the
training-room.

She found out that Van was still on the meeting-room. «Well, I'll not
wait until they finish that stupid meeting!» - she knocked at the door
and soon Van's voice said she could come in. she entered and lowered
her head.

"Marta? What brought you here?" - Van asked as soon as she entered the
room.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I was looking for you. I want o train a
little!" - Van lifted an eyebrow.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now!" - she firmed. - "But, if you are too occupied, I'll
train with someone else!" - she made a low courtesy and turned away,
ready to leave.

"Wait a second! We have finished ... I'll train with you!" - she
smiled, listening to his footsteps behind her. He grabbed her left arm
and pulled out from the room.

When they were far enough he gave her a kiss on the forehead. -
"You're my goddess! I was dying in there!" - she smiled. - "God
blesses the training!" - they went to the training-room, were they
found the still sad Christina training alone. - "Good morning
Christina! You don't look very well!" - he commented. She looked up,
at him and smiled.

"Good morning Van! I'm fine, don't worry!" - she turned again for the
target.

"If you say so" - he approached from Marta ears and whispered. - "What
happened?"

"Love affairs!" - she whispered back at him. - "Let's start the
training ... Shell we?"

Christina leaved the room after a while, after Marta comforted her a
little. Marta and Van stood training till lunchtime.

But when lunchtime came, they had to go, took a bath and change
cloths. When they finally made it to the dinning-room, the others had
already started eating.

"Late ... as usual!" - Allen commented.

"Shut up Allen!" - Van said while taking his seat. Marta sat next to
Merle.

"What took you so long?" - Allen gave a scoffing smile, towards Van. -
"Love is in the air." - Van gave him an angered look and Allen
stopped, or better said, he restarted eating.

"Dryden ... will you leave today?" - Van asked.

"Yes! After lunch!" - Dryden firmed.

"Want me to send some of my troops to escort you on your way back to
Asturia?" - Van asked, drinking some wine.

"No way! You need all your troops to fight against this new enemy!" -
Dryden said, finishing his meal. - "Speaking of it ... Allen will
stay! I'm sure he will be a good help for you and your country.

"I appreciate your help! But wouldn't it be better if you took him
with you? For your safety!"

"We are not the ones who are under attack, Van!" - Dryden put his
glass of wine back in the table. - " He will be much more useful for
you, right now! When this finishes, he will come back to Asturia."

"Thanks Dryden!" - Van continued his meal, but noticed Marta and
Christina didn't ate, almost anything. - "Aren't you two hungry?" -
they agitated their heads saying no. Marta drunk all her juice, but
only ate a little.

"Excuse me!" - she got up and left the room. Everyone stopped.

"Where is she going?" - Celena asked concerned.

"And what's the matter with her?" - Mirana asked, drinking some more
wine. Allen was about to go after her.

"DON'T!" - he stopped when Van yelled at him. Everyone looked at him.
- "I'm sure she wants to be alone right now!" - Allen sat back, but
Christina got up and left, without a word. - "Leave her alone too!" -
they all looked at the table. Van continued his meal.

~*~*~

Before Marta went to her room, she went to the training-room and
picked up her weapon. She had a weird felling about this night.

She was on her way to her bedroom, when she saw Sano, in front of
Christina's bedroom door, looking down. She could also hear Christina
crying in desperation.

She passed by. Sano saw her, but said nothing and stood there.

Marta opened her bedroom's door, putted her weapon next to the door
and closed it. She leaned against the door, looking at the beautiful
sky and at the shiny sun. Her window was open. She could smell the
fresh air of Fanélia. Not the suffocating air of Earth.

~*~*~

At half past seven in the afternoon:

The others were in different parts of the Palace when they heard a
call for Van. He run out and found four Guymelefs standing in front of
the palace.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your royal business, but if I were you, I
would pick up Escaflowne immediately!" - the same voice from the first
day. It looked so familiar to Marta.

"You fucking son of a bitch!" - Van yelled.

"Now ... is that any way of treating your family, Van Fanel?" - Van's
eyes wined up, just as from the others.

"What do you mean with that?" - he asked.

"Remember your grandfather's twin brother?" - he smiled. - "Well I'm
his grandson!" - he pointed his sword towards Van. - "Now get on
Escaflowne, if you don't want to die like that!"

Van run towards the Guymelefs' yard and opened Escaflowne cockpit.
When he was in front of his `cousin', as well as was Scherazade,
Zardus released a small laugh.

"Now starts the fun! Yukí, take the girls and the Laguen's knight
too!" - he order to the red Guymelef, with female shape.

"What for?" - she asked.

"Don't ask ... just do it as I say!" - Yukí pressed a button and soon,
the four Guymelefs, Escaflowne, Scherazade, Marta, Hitomi, Celena,
Merle, Christina, Farge and Drid disappeared in the air.

~*~*~

"Where the hell are we?" - asked Allen with a concerned look in his
face.

"The desperation desert!" - Van firmed, releasing a heavy sigh. - "At
least we are not far away from Fanélia.

The place exiles death and loneliness. Old and dead trees everywhere;
water was never seen on those landings. A suffocating breeze spread,
and it was hard to breath. They, all, were sweating like pigs.

Van looked at the Guymelef standing in front of him. - "Why did you
brought us here?" - he breathed heavily.

"We needed a little quiet, don't you think!" - the Guymelef's cockpit
opened slowly, revealing a young man with dark brown hair and
honey-colour eyes.

"ZARDUS?!"

Hey! Finished. Anyway finally I said why Zardus wants to kill Van, but
Hitomi will not be pleased, don't you think?

Well, review and bye, bye.

See you.

#Ana Nunes#