Hey folks.  It's been a while since I've sent anything to the list, but...  
I just finished watching Escaflowne, and was inspired to write this.  It 
happens after the end of the series, so you may be spoiled...  The Vision of 
Escaflowne is copyright Sunrise, TV Tokyo, and Bandai Entertainment, Inc... 
no infringement intended.

Erin
    www.unc.edu/~ellis � members.tripod.com/~tina97 � come.to/coup
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Kimi o...

a Vision of Escaflowne story

by Erin Ellis


        He called me again today.
        "Oh Hitomi, you look so good with Amano-sempai!"
        "It's like you were fated to be together!"
        But I don't believe in fate anymore.
        And...  *He* called again today.
        Yukari-chan asked what happened to my pendant.
        "I--"  The world behind rippled to black.  The smell of fields 
became strong as a silhouette came into view, the only things visible my 
pendant around his neck and a pair of white wings sprouting from his back.
        'Van.'  My voice caught in my throat.  As feathers began to swirl, 
he gazed at me, in his eyes an offer I could not take, one he only half 
expected me to consider.
        "Hitomi?" Yukari asked.
        Just as he had so many times before, he gave a sad smile as he faded 
into the ether.
        "I-- I gave it to a friend," I finished.
        But is that true?  How can I say Van's just a friend?  I love him.  
And Amano-sempai...
        I care for Sempai, I truly do.  I know I can be happy with him, 
raise a family with him, grow old with him.
        But... it's not the same.
        I wonder if Van feels the same way, if he's going through courtiers 
or Merle, or whoever, but really thinking of me.  But then, why would he 
call so often with his unspoken offer to return with him?
        And why won't I take it?
        It seems so ridiculous... how could I have given him up?  Life is 
strangely empty without him.  Sure, a sense of belonging ties me to the 
Mystic Moon--
        When did I start thinking of this place as the Mystic Moon instead 
of home?  And after all that's happened, how can I deny my connection to 
Gaea?  I helped save her from certain disaster, and reformed her with my 
love.  With *our* love.
        Grandmother always told me to trust my feelings.  But if they go 
against what I know should be--
        Enough!  So many buts!  So I no longer know what to think, what to 
feel.  That's okay.  I *don't* believe in fate.  And that means I follow 
what I want, not what I should do.
        I think back to Van's call this morning, his eyes a joyful offer of 
what could be, a sad realization of what must be.
        Must it?
        Something brushes lightly against my face, rousing me from my 
thoughts.  It is a single feather, white as snow.  I hold it to my cheek and 
gaze wistfully to the sky, to the moon, and past.
        Perhaps the offer still stands.
        Because I'd love to take him up on it.


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