“How old were you?”

“I was five, so my memories of the happier days with my family are limited, especially with my father, he died when I was three.”

Hitomi went to respond but Van continued,  “Mostly I remember time spent with Balgus training, there was little time for family warmth or comfort once Folken had died. My brother had failed so I had to be the perfect version of him, no matter what, when there’s that much pressure, there’s little room for love.” “Oh…”

“It’s okay,” Van dismissed, “Not like I remember it any other way, but it’s why I am so close to Merle. She’s been there for me through it all, I could never turn my back on her. She saw me at my worst, I made a promise that I’d never abandon her.”

“I understand that” Hitomi answered looking back at the clouds. “And was your home beautiful?”

“Yes, my mother loved it there.”

“And have your people always fought dragons? What if the dragons weren’t evil, they were just trying to live their life.”

“Do you have to ask so many questions?”

Hitomi pulled her knees up to her chest, leaving Van’s question unanswered. Van huffed, clearly not used to being ignored by others, the indignance he felt was written across his face but he would not be the first one to crack.

Equally Hitomi wouldn’t be responding, if Van wanted to sit in awkward silence that was fine with her, it’s not as if she wasn’t used to this at home with her sister and parents. Sometimes silence could be comforting.

She tilted her head to the side watching the clouds go by below, a flock of birds, that reminded her of geese flew by, calling to one another as they went. She could see other birds in the distance, odd insects would fly past, some of them far larger than anything she’d seen back home in Japan.

Van watched her with interest, at first he had been annoyed at how she hadn’t responded to him but now he was fascinated by how at peace she was despite being so far from home. More than that she had a curious smile, almost like a child discovering things for the first time. Her cheeks were a little flushed, made more intense by the evening light, soft pinks and oranges which danced on her face.

So in the end, it was Van who relented, “I’m sorry I snapped.” Somehow he still managed to make it sound like he was cross even when apologising. Hitomi looked over to him and smiled, “It’s okay, I understand, I’m sorry I was asking so many questions. There’s just not much for me to do right now.”

“Do you have much to do or entertain you where you’re from.”

Hitomi had to laugh, “That depends, I’m not waited on…I’m not like you or the others. My life is very different. I study, a lot… a lot of reading, a lot of track.”

“Like tracking animals?”

Shaking her head Hitomi replied, “Running, we run around a track and try to beat our fastest scores.”

“And you do this for fun? You’re not being chased by a dragon or some enemy?”

“No, we don’t have dragons where I’m from. We listen to music though, I love music.”

“And what else?”

“I like to spend time with my friends mostly, we visited the shrine sometimes, I spend time with my brother and my parents, of course there’s my Tarot cards…” she paused for a moment, “I love my room, my parent’s house, our garden. My life is simple and far less exciting than this but it’s happy and there I am safe.” Her hand traced the gold chain which held her grandmother’s necklace, she rubbed it unconsciously a few times and held onto it tightly.

“Do you miss home?” Even as he asked the question, he knew it was a silly one, he shifted his weight and found his face screwed up a little with embarrassment.

Hitomi took a moment, “Yes.”

“Me too.”

Gaddes walked by then breaking the atmosphere, “I’d suggest getting some sleep now if I were you. We should be in Asturia in 4 hours or so I doubt they’ll be much chance for rest when we get there.”

Van nodded and stood up, “Goodnight,” he spoke without looking back at Hitomi, walking off to his quarters.

Gaddes walked over to Hitomi and reached out to help her up, “I know you don’t need to be treated like a princess,” he sighed as he helped her to her feet.

“Thank you Gaddes I appreciate it.”

“Make sure you get some sleep okay?” He asked, genuine concern not remotely concealed by his tone nor his expression.

Hitomi nodded, “I will, thank you.” She was still holding his hands at this moment and realised just how dwarfed her own hands were in in comparison to his. She let go and turned, walking away and back to her room when she couldn’t help but ask, “What’s Asturia like?”

Gaddes gave a longing sigh, how to answer that question? It was home for him, it was where family were, where the landscape that made him feel happy and alive was. The smell of the sea, the sea birds and markets. There were rolling fields of green and wildflowers. It was also home to the woman he had long since loved and hoped, knowing it was a fool’s hope, that one day they may be able to be together.

“It’s beautiful, really beautiful and peaceful in places. There’s just the right balance of sea, city and countryside for none of it to be too overwhelming or isolating.”

Hitomi hummed, “That sounds so much like my home.”

“And?” Gaddes raised an eyebrow.

Hitomi smiled in response, “Perfect.”

**********

That night Hitomi found it hard to sleep, she was equal parts excited and nervous for the next day. It would involve meeting new people once again and getting used to somewhere completely alien to her. Furthermore, there would be discussions of war and battle once more, it frightened her more than she let on.

The bed she’d been provided with was comfortable and she felt if she didn’t at least try to sleep it would be rude of her considering others had made changes to accommodate her.

Once settled she thought about what Van said, his words ringing in her ear, “Me too.”

She thought about how Gaddes’ face lit up when he talked of home. She thought about her own home and then she thought of Merle and how she had lost hers, everything made sense now with why Merle was so attached to Van, of course she would be and now Hitomi felt selfish to have not seen it before.

She turned over in bed and pulled the blankets closer, higher, wanting to disappear under the weight of it all and further into the darkness. But she caught the glimmer of the stars in the night sky and so focused on them and their brightness instead, that was a comfort to her and with the moon looking over her she finally fell asleep.

When she awoke, the Crusade had landed. The sound of the bustle of the ship that had woken her up, 5 minutes later there was a knock at the door.

“Lady Hitomi,” she recognised Gaddes’ voice, “We’re going to be heading out shortly, come meet us up on deck.”

“Be there in a minute,” she replied sleepily, wishing she’d gone to bed earlier.

“Do you need anything?”

“No,” she lied, she needed something to eat or drink at the very least.

“Okay, well I’ve left something outside.”

Hitomi got up a minute later and head to the door, opening it a jar she found a cold glass of water and a piece of bright, strange looking fruit. She smiled as she picked them up, though a part of her wished it had been Van to have brought the items, to have thought of her. Closing the door and leaning back against it she scolded herself, Van had far more important things to think about which didn’t concern her. Why was she feeling like this, what was wrong with her?

“About time,” Merle teased as she got up on deck, finding everyone else already waiting to disembark. Van seemed annoyed, restless, tense…he was the first to climb down without so much as a nod in her direction.

Hitomi just smiled in reply, there was no need to say anything, and she knew anything she did say was likely to set Van off, his temper was noticeably short.

She focused on something more positive. Gaddes had been right, Asturia was beautiful, she could smell the sea air and heard the gulls as they flew by.

***************************

Later that night…

It was no use; Hitomi could not get to sleep. The bed felt too big to her, as if it would swallow her whole, she, just a child laying in the middle of tangled sheets. She made a point of sleeping on one side of the bed so she could pretend it was small like her bed at home. Funny how she’d always dreamt of having such a large bed, what teenager didn’t? But to sleep in one felt so lonely, too vast to fill with warmth.

It wasn’t just the bed, the room she was in also felt too large, empty in many respects. The space that had been left provided so many places where people could be. She felt uneasy in the Palace, it was nothing like being on the Crusade Ship where she felt at home and where she could be herself. Here she had to act more like Millerna whom she’d met earlier that day, to pretend to be more of a princess and Hitomi was constantly worried that she could do something to cause offense or alarm.

The outfit she’d been given to wear was too pink, too frilly, to completely unlike anything she would usually wear out. That made her uncomfortable, how on earth was she to relax when she didn’t feel like herself?

Then there was the issue of Van, she’d barely seen him at all once they reached Asturia. It bothered her that there was a connection between herself, her pendant and Escaflowne, and yet Van was barely interested in hearing about it. She’d tried to speak to him when they passed one another, but Van had been whisked away and when she spoke, he simply ignored her. If there was one word to sum up Van it would be….infuriating, frustrating, stubborn…. Hitomi sighed.

It was no use after over an hour of trying to get to sleep she decided laying there would achieve nothing, all she would do was worry about the fact she couldn’t get to sleep which in turn would make it harder. Instead, she decided to practise radical acceptance and got out of bed. She wrapped a dressing gown around herself and tightened it, slipped on some house slippers to go for a walk and explore a bit of the castle whilst also trying to locate a kitchen where she might acquire a hot tea to make her feel sleepy or some warm milk. Of course, there would probably be a maid for that sort of thing, though that made her feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Opening the door slightly she poked her head round the corner to check there was no one around who might scold her for being up so late and snooping.

Once she realised the coast was clear she emerged and as she started to walk down the corridor, she marvelled at all the candles, pictures and finery. With every turn she made a mental note so she wouldn’t get lost on her way back to the room, that would be an embarrassing story that Merle would surely find out about and tease her the following day.

She continued along until she reached a staircase, a kitchen would surely be downstairs? Slowly she descended and she was correct, shortly she found a kitchen, there was no one around so she snuck inside and managed to find a glass and some milk. As she left the kitchen, ensuring everything was in its place, she saw candles lit outside. They hadn’t been before, who was out there now? She changed the direction she was walking in and head towards the velvet curtains. Looking through the window she could see nothing, she crept round the door and tried to find a way outside. Perhaps the fresh air would help her get to sleep.

She slipped out into the cool evening air where she found bees buzzing around night scented flowers and lavender, moths danced round the flames of the great lanterns. She heard voices hushed and whispered, Hitomi knew she shouldn’t head in their direction, but curiosity got the better of her. She went round another corner and alongside a tall hedgerow, there she found a topiary of a great bird of prey and another of a fish. As she got closer, she was sure it was Allen’s voice she could hear. The other she wasn’t sure of, it was a woman, but from what she could recall of Millerna, this wasn’t her.

She crept slowly across the gravel path, clutching the dressing gown tightly around her to protect herself from the cool night air.

“Please, just hear me out Princess,” she heard Allen speak.

Princess? It wasn’t Millerna, so that meant.

She peaked through a gap in the bushes and there saw Allen and Princess Eries deep in discussion, Eries had her back to Allen, visibly upset. Allen reached for her, but Eries must have sensed his movement as she tensed, her clothes no longer hanging loose and free, rather now stiff as she took a step away from him.

“How many times Allen,” she spoke softly.

“I…I know this must be confusing.”

Eries spun round, her hands brushing Allen’s away, “Confusing? That isn’t the half off it. You had a secret affair with my oldest sister whilst she was married. And that, that perhaps I can forgive considering Marlene is no longer with us, considering….” Eries paused as her expression softened, “Marlene loved you and I have no doubt your feelings towards her were true, but you had a son with her and now she’s dead, now it’s me whose affections you are after. All this time…all those years wasted when we could…” Eries paused, unable to finish the sentence. There were words here that did not need to be said.

Allen remained silent; Hitomi was frozen to the spot as she watched unable to quite process what she was seeing. What was this about Allen being a father, having an affair? He had seemed such the gentleman and so chivalrous, but he was could also be quite flirtatious, Hitomi couldn’t deny that.

“Tell me Allen, do you know what it is you want? Who is it you want? Do you love me truly, or is this just one of your games, your desperate attempt to cling to something, to make yourself appear less shallow than you really are.”

Hitomi could tell that this question hurt Allen, he looked away from Eries, though he could find nothing to rest his eyes on and focus his attention away from her and the question. What should he say? Was she right, in part yes, but he was confused after-all there were some feelings there, too many feelings if anything.

“Princess…you must know, I did not plan to fall in love again. I loved your sister truly, we were both so young. But my intentions are honest and true.”

Eries took a step back towards Allen, her hand reaching out to touch his cheek, “I love you.” A pause and then, “I am in love with you.”

“Oh Allen.”

As he stepped into the arms of Eries he looked over her shoulder and right in Hitomi’s direction, she took a deep breath and tried to remain as a statue completely still and hoped that in holding her breath and remaining firm that he wouldn’t see her. If he had, well she didn’t like to think of the consequences.

Just then she heard his owl who gave a loud hoot as he swooped above her towards Allen making her jump and clutch at her breast.

She nearly let out a scream but at that moment a large pair of arms grabbed her from behind and put a hand across her mouth to muffle the sound.

“Hitomi, it’s okay it’s me,” Gaddes spoke as he let go of her.

Hitomi turned now they were crouching on the floor beside the hedge, “Gaddes,” she whispered, “What are you doing up?” As she whispered, her gaze travelled from Gaddes to behind him, where Van stood, his expression smug, clearly pleased that he had been a part of catching her spying on others.  

“We could ask you the same question.” Van said.

Her cheeks flushed, “I couldn’t sleep, I just wanted to tire myself out and find something to drink. The doors were open, I thought a nighttime stroll in the garden would be just the thing. I wasn’t intending to spy on anyone.”

Van scoffed, “Of course you weren’t.”

Gaddes elbowed him gently, “We’ve all been there.”

“I think, I think I’ve had enough exercise and excitement for the evening and perhaps should return to my room now.”

“I think that would be best, shall I walk you both back, before you cause trouble?”

Hitomi nodded, Van didn’t but complied, he didn’t wish to make relations with the Asturian’s difficult.

Gaddes walked behind them as they quietly left the garden, he could sense the tension between the two youngsters but dare not say anything for fear of setting them off and drawing attention to them. Both held their arms in tight to their bodies, their line of vision either straight ahead or slightly to the side away from the other.

Eventually Hitomi spoke, “Could you not sleep either Van?”

“Obviously.”

“There’s no need to be like that, I’m just making conversation.”

“Well it was a silly question.”

“Fine, why couldn’t you sleep, what’s keeping you up?”

Van slowed his pace, there was genuine care in Hitomi’s voice and so he softened in response, “I think you already know, how can I sleep peacefully when there is so much weight on my shoulders, when others cannot…when.”

Before he finished speaking they reached Hitomi’s room, she felt a little perturbed that Van would now know where she was sleeping but said nothing. Van did not finish his sentence, but Hitomi knew where he was going and felt useless. What could she really do to help?

“As hard as it is, I think you’ll both feel better after a good night’s sleep.” Gaddes said, opening the door to Hitomi’s room.

She stepped inside and then turned back, she couldn’t help but ask, “Gaddes, what is it with Allen? I overheard…he has a son and...”

Van looked across to Gaddes, he wouldn’t admit it, but he was curious too.

Gaddes signed and shook his head at her, “Sshhhh,” his voice wasn’t cruel. “Forget you heard about it. Allen’s relationship with the Aston sisters is, to keep it simple…actually the opposite of that, rather complex. Best you don’t think on it or get involved with it, the rest of us know to stay out of it.”

Hitomi nodded, “Understood, goodnight Gaddes and thank you for stopping me,” she looked across at Van, “Stopping us, from embarrassing ourselves”

“Goodnight miss.” Gaddes started to walk away, giving the other two privacy.

“Goodnight Van, try to get some sleep…I know it’s hard.” Hitomi said.

Van nodded, “You too,” he turned to follow Gaddes.

This time when Hitomi got back into bed her head was racing with thoughts, she was tired now and in need of sleep to recover from the excitement and worry of the evening. She worried about Allen, she was rather fond of him and didn’t like to think of him as anything other than the perfect knight. But then no one was perfect she supposed, everyone had secrets. Perhaps Gaddes was right, try to forget about it, stay out of it… it’s what the rest of them do.

She slept soundly, a head full of pretty dreams, hopes and an unexpected appearance from Van standing on a beach waiting for her.

************

The next time she saw Van it was the following afternoon, she’d hoped she would see him at breakfast so they could get to know one another better, so their bond could strengthen especially due to her connection to Escaflowne. She wanted to be able to support him in battle and felt to be able to do this best she wanted to really know him and get through the tough shield he put up.

“Van there you are,” Hitomi ran across the Courtyard to him, her first instinct was to throw her arms around him and pull him into a tight embrace. But the expression on his face and the way Merle glared at him meant she quickly slowed her pace.

“I’ve been looking for you, we could do with…. what would we call it? Training I suppose to get to know Escaflowne better, you better…I think that’s what we need to do in order for me to be the most use during battle.”

Van raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, “I’m not sure Escaflowne works like that.”

Hitomi was not one to be put off when her mind was set on something, “Maybe not, but do you know for certain that isn’t how it works?” She paused to judge his reaction, “And do you even truly understand Escaflowne yet?”

She knew she had overstepped the mark but was growing frustrated with feeling useless and not being listened to.

“What would you know about that? You think I don’t know Escaflowne? Know something that my blood is linked to as King of Fanelia, that I was born to pilot?” His nostrils flared as he raised his voice. “But no, you know Escaflowne better than me, I see.”

Hitomi shook her head and clutched her pendant, she closed her eyes not wanting to see the indignant little boy any longer, “That isn’t what I said.” She paused to take a breath, not wanting to make things worse, she reached out for him.

Van took a large step backwards and swatted away her hand, “Who do you think you are to give orders to me?”

Merle sat by his side, cleaning her paws. It irritated Hitomi how placid she could be during an argument.

Hitomi sighed, “Please Van, put your pride to the side. That is what a King would do.”

When she opened her eyes, he was stood with an unreadable look on his face, that developed into a smirk. Merle was frozen in place, twitching.

Vans coldness had irritated Hitomi before, but now it actively upset her. Before Van answered Hitomi turned and walked off, careful not to run, although she would have liked nothing more than to escape everyone as quickly as possible, it was important she didn’t appear too dramatic, or at least not as dramatic as Van.

She could feel all eyes on her, mutterings, people wondering if they’d had a lover’s tiff. She had to laugh at the thought, they didn’t spend nearly enough time together for it to be anything as close as that.

Hitomi thought about retreating to the garden, the courtyard, the library but in any of these places she could be interrupted, the one place where she could escape would be her bedroom she’d been assigned.

When she shut the door, she leant against it for a moment and then walked to the other side of the room wanting to get as far away from others as possible. She would not cry. She would not cry.

By the window she sat on the ledge, the curtains blowing in the gentle sea breeze. She pulled her knees up to her chest and took a deep breath, feeling the sadness spread across her body, tears building in her eyes. Hitomi blinked several times trying to disperse the signs of unhappiness, as she tried to fight these feelings she looked out across the gardens and there something caught her eye.

Millerna was sat on a bench next to a man she didn’t recognise, perhaps this was her fiancé, Dryden? She wondered how Allen felt about that, although from last night he was in love with Eries, at least that’s how it came across. But Gaddes had said his relationship with the sisters was complex…

There was nothing quite like other people’s problems or mess to help one forget their own situation. Just then she heard a knock at the door.

She ignored it for the first time, trying to make out more of what Allen and Millerna were talking about, perhaps their body language would give away more. This was far more interesting than worrying about that silly boy, Van, anyway.

Another knock, “Hitomi.”

Ah. Van.

Van was at her door. Hitomi suspected he didn’t care, just didn’t want to look bad so once again his pride was getting the better of him.

Remembering the arguments she had with her brother she replied, “Hitomi isn’t in here.”

Van cleared his throat, “Then why is she talking to me.”

“She isn’t.”

“Name one other person in this country who has an accent as funny as yours.”

Hitomi dropped her knees and swung round to get off the ledge, “Hey you take that back.”

She marched across the room and opened the door, “It worked, didn’t it?” Van asked.

“You should be training,” Hitomi replied.

Van shook his head, “No, I should be listening. A good King listens right?”

Hitomi’s expression softened, “Right.”

“And I think, as much as I don’t like to say it,” Van lowered his voice as several guards walked past. “I think you are right, we should spend some more time together, get to know each other and you need to understand Escaflowne, be a part of her, breathe with her.”

Hitomi nodded; a determined smile played on her face.

“And how do you propose we go about this?”

“Do you like markets?” Van asked.

“Yes, who doesn’t? But Millerna was going to take Merle and I later today.”

Van shook his head, “You can still go with her later, but let’s go together.” As if reading Hitomi’s mind he added, “Just you and I, no Merle for once, she’ll understand.”

“Will she?” Hitomi asked feeling incredibly doubtful of this claim and already feeling the wrath of the cat girl creep up on her.

“Please Hitomi, trust me,” Van held out his hand for hers, “I know, it’s a lot after how I’ve behaved, but give me this one chance.”

“Yes Van, I will.”

The market was busier than Van would have liked, in his mind, perhaps due to his sheltered upbringing, he’d imagined the market here to be quieter, a peaceful place for pottering up and down the stalls and somewhere where they would be able to talk undisturbed. He pictured them laughing over drinks, trying different food and perhaps buying something for Hitomi that would help her feel more at home. Something that was for her alone and wasn’t just borrowed like everything else that had been bestowed upon her thus far.

Instead, what they got was the noise, stall owners shouting over one another, horrific competition for buyers. The smells of the fish market, flowers, spices, all mingled into one assault on the senses.

But when he looked over at Hitomi and saw how happy she was as she looked at each stall and talked to the owners, picking up objects and mulling over the different objects, he found himself smiling properly for the first time in ages. She seemed to fit right in, the locals loved her and her charm.

Although they didn’t speak much whilst browsing the market, apart from to comment what they were looking at, it didn’t matter. Just spending that time alone together meant they bonded better than in any forced situation, making one another laugh naturally and finding they had things in common in terms of their taste buds.

Eventually when they settled on what to drink, some local spiced red wine, and to eat, steak and salad, they went to sit on a bench overlooking the water away from the hustle and bustle.

“What do you think of the market?”

Van took a moment to consider his answer, he was thinking he’d be the one asking questions not the other way round.

“Do you miss home a lot?”

Hitomi gulped, “Every day, I look forward to returning when I can,” as if sensing his discomfort at the idea she added, “Of course I hope it isn’t too soon, I want to be a help to you in this war. I’m not ready to leave yet, not nearly ready. Besides…there is so much I need to learn about this,” she took off her pendant and passed it to Van to study.

Hitomi stared out at the ocean, “In many ways this place, it reminds me of home.”

“Do you live near the sea?”

“Yes, I see it every day on my way to school.”

“From what I saw, it was very beautiful.”

Hitomi had forgotten that Van had seen earth, if only very briefly, the shrine was one of her favourite places to reflect and find peace, she was glad that he had seen it.

“I wish you could have seen more.”

Van placed his hand next to Hitomi’s their fingertips touching, “Maybe one day I will.”

She smiled, it was a nice dream to have, even if it was just that, a dream, a fantasy of something she knew could never be no matter how hard either of them wished for it. But the fact that Van had said it out loud, made it real, was even thinking about it made her happier than she could say.

After eating they continued to browse the market, Hitomi opting for another glass of the delicious red wine. It soothed her throat and warmed her up even though the seaside city was plenty warm, it was still a nice sensation.

It was whilst passing a store selling trinkets that Hitomi spotted a relic from home, she froze on the spot staring at the silver disc spinning in the slight breeze and pointed towards it.

Van, on following her finger asked, “Do you want it?”

Hitomi took a few steps closer and asked the vendor, a fish man, “Where did you get this?”

“Ahh a pretty little trinket isn’t it? Would you like a closer look?” He took the disc down and passed it over to Hitomi, “There you go miss.”

“But where…. where did you find it?”

The seller tapped where his nose would have been had he been human. “I have many mysteries and secrets. Someone brought this to me, asked me if I’d like to buy it, how could I resist something so beautiful?”

Hitomi smiled as she turned the disc over in her hands, yes, how could anyone resist something so beautiful? Van paid for it and the two of them returned to the palace afterwards.

“Are you okay, every time you look at that thing you grow distant, what is it about it that had you so hypnotised?”

“This is from home,” Hitomi said as she lifted the disc up, it gleamed in the sunlight showing off all the colours of the rainbow.

Van took it from Hitomi as she held it out, carefully, lest it should break, he turned it over in his hands, “What is it?”

“I don’t even know how to explain what it does Van, but it plays music.”

“How?” He wrinkled his brows, clearly unsure of what Hitomi meant.

“We, we have a device, more than one…. rather there are many similar devices which you can have and when you put this disc into it there is a button to play the music that is contained.”

Van didn’t seem any surer of the matter, his expression still curious. He passed the disc back to Hitomi for safe keeping, “But you have nothing to play this item on here?”

“Well…actually,” Hitomi had kept the disc man a secret, but the thought of sharing that treasure with Van excited her. “If you don’t be mean to me for the rest of the day then I will show you something later this afternoon.”

Van intrigued nodded, “Deal.”

With that Van purchased the CD for Hitomi, the trip to the market had been in his opinion a great success achieving exactly what he’d intended.

“So Escaflowne, I think it’s time we paid it a visit don’t you? It is possible she is feeling awfully neglected.”

“Let’s go.”

When they arrived in the great hall where Escaflowne was being kept, Hitomi couldn’t help but feel unease at the number of guards all around. They were watching Escaflowne, yes, but to what end? Was it to protect the guymelef and ensure it wasn’t stolen away, or was it because Asturia had their eyes on it instead.

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, admiring it, Van still sometimes couldn’t believe he was Escaflowne’s pilot, so whenever he stood before it he took a moment to be grateful, to stand in awe at the machine which under his fingertips and command came alive. The machine to which he was destined to pilot and with whom he had a fierce connection.

Hitomi turned to face him, “Van?”

Van moved forwards walking towards Escaflowne, aware of everyone watching him, wanting to see what came next. The problem was, even Van wasn’t sure. He was certain with Hitomi they could win, as long as they continued to bond he believed they could not fail. But the pressure of being a King, the pressure of so many eyes in the back of his head caused him to sweat and tremble a little as he reached Escaflowne.

Hitomi’s pendant started to glow as she followed and walked closer to Escaflowne, she placed a hand on the Energist and closed her eyes. There in the solitude she could hear the heartbeat, slow and steady, like it was moving underground, in hibernation and an aware slumber.

Talk to me….she thought. Escaflowne, what is it you need?

She turned to Van, “It’s okay Van, I’m here. The three of us are here together. Join me.” Van followed her lead, placing a hand on top of Escaflownce, fingers overlapping slightly so the three were joined.

“Together, we will work this out.” Hitomi said.

Van smiled, “Together, we can win.” It was the most certain Van had been of anything in a very, very long time.