Quicksilver's Quill Offers
Mystic Eyes
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
standard disclaimers- Escaflowne is not mine.
AN: Special Thanks to Juli, my new and WONDERFUL beta!
 
Background: The way the Tarot was abused in Escaflowne
has always really annoyed me, and what the fandom
(i.e. inexperienced fanfic writers who don't research
what they don't know) has done to it only made it
worse.   My goal with this piece is to do a
continuation that explores some aspects of the series,
and do an accurate representation of the Tarot.  For
this, we're going to assume that Hitomi uses an Ukiyou
Tarot deck.   My understanding of the tarot is less
then perfect, but... I'm trying.  I don�t claim to be
an expert, but I do lay the occasional spread out.  
I�m going to attempt to use the entire major arcana,
but considering there�s so many cards� I�m also going
to be a chicken and avoid dealing with the minor
arcana if I can avoid it!  Main resource is located
at: http://www.learntarot.com/ 

***************************
PART ONE:
JUDGEMENT
KEYWORDS: Judgment, Rebirth, 
Inner Calling. Absolution
***************************

"On Card 20, we see people rising up at the call of an
angel. It is Judgment Day, when the faithful are
brought to heaven, but what about those who are not
saved? Have they been judged and found wanting? For
their sins, will they be denied the presence of God?
It is this aspect of judgment that is unsettling. How
can judgment be reconciled with forgiveness? 

"In fact, judgment comes in two forms. The hurtful
kind says, "What you did is wrong, and you are bad and
worthless for having done it." This type of judgment
separates and leaves no room for redemption. It is
possible to judge without condemning. We assess the
matter, weigh all sides and try to discern the truth.
We recognize the need to choose and hope for the
courage to do so wisely - but without blame.
 
"In readings, Card 20 can be a reminder that judgments
are necessary; sometimes you must decide. At such
moments, it is best to consider the matter carefully
and then commit yourself without censure. If you are
being judged yourself, learn from the process. Take
what is of value, correct what needs correcting, but
never lose sight of your worth. 

"Card 20 also stands for the feelings that come with
salvation. When the angel calls, you are reborn -
cleansed of all guilts and burdens. The past and its
mistakes are behind you, and you are ready to begin
anew. You may even feel a calling - a personal
conviction of what you are meant to do. If you are in
a low period, in need of hope and absolution,
Judgement can show you that renewal is at hand. "

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

	"Kanzaki-san!   Kanzaki-san!"

	Hitomi raised her head from where she was rummaging
in her sports bag, smiling slightly at the older girl
who was running towards her.   "Yes, McClellan-san?"
she asked politely.

Bridget McClellan bent over and clutched her knees for
support as she attempted to catch her breath.   "I
just... wanted to say... that it's a pleasure racing
against you."

	Hitomi nodded graciously.   "It was a fun match."

	The other girl heaved a sigh, and then wagged a
finger in a surprised Hitomi's face.  "You're too
kind.   None of us came anywhere close to catching
you, not even me.   Why, before you arrived, I was the
star!   Now I'm lucky if I can get a second place time
that isn't too embarrassingly far behind yours."  

	"Doesn't it bother you?   This unknown, taking your
place?" Hitomi asked, feeling the slight stirrings of
curiosity.   Usually it was too much effort to become
curious about others around her, but something about
Bridget appealed to her.   

	Bridget smiled, showing off a cute pair of dimples.  
"Kanzaki-san... I might as well be jealous of the rain
for being wet.  Running is something you ARE, rather
then something you do.   It's like... walking the
hallowed grounds where a King has dwelt- you're
honored to be there, in a place where history was
made.   You're making history, now.   In fifty years,
KO will be known as the school Kanzaki Hitomi-sama
raced for."

	A blush stained Hitomi's cheeks, and she tilted her
head forward in an attempt to hide it.   "Please don't
speak like that," she said quietly.   "I'm not running
for history; I'm running for myself."

	The redhead nodded in an agreeable fashion.   "That's
what makes you special.   Have you thought about
trying out for the national team?"

	Hitomi's expression grew troubled.   "Everyone tells
me I really should, but I'm not sure I want to."

	"Not want to?" Bridget looked puzzled. 

	"I think I just want to be an ordinary student, at
least for a while.   That will when I start running
international meets."

	"What if... something happens?   You could break
something badly."  The thought was a serious one; if a
runner broke something, the recuperation time could
destroy a career, even if the injury didn�t.

	Hitomi nodded.   "I've taken that into consideration,
of course, but I'm sure things will be fine.   I have
faith."

	"I wish I did!   I pulled a tendon once and was on
crutches for a week-  for a while I despaired of ever
running again!"  The girl's impish smile pulled Hitomi
in unwillingly, like a moth to a flame.   "I had
something I wanted to ask you."

	"Can it wait until after we hit the showers?"

	"How about during?"

	Hitomi agreed readily enough.  Slowly she zipped her
running bag and slung it across her left shoulder,
then walked with the other girl to the showers.  She
had yet to find a personal manager as devoted as
Yukari had been, and wasn't sure if she regretted that
or not.   It was easier to seek the solitude she
desired, but Yukari had been her only friend who had
hung on... after.   The others had found her
detachment rather frightening.  Still, without a
manager, she was stuck carrying her stuff around
herself.

	The girl's locker room was much the same as any she
had ever been in.   The floors were perpetually damp,
and the girls all wore flip-flops in the shower to
avoid touching the slimy-feeling floors.  The walls
were a dismal off-white, and the lighting was, at
best, chancy.   The room had lost power twice so far
while she had been in there, and she'd been stuck
standing naked, waiting for someone to restore the
lights since she couldn't find her clothes.  The only
thing the place had going for it was the endless
supply of hot water, something she cherished.

	It was late in the day, so the women's track team had
the place pretty much to them selves.   The sound of
hissing water from the communal stalls let her know
that someone was in there, and she heard the quiet
murmur of voices from around the room in various
places.   She hurried to her locker to get her bath
gear out and shoved her bag in it. She stripped
quickly, her finely toned muscles still gleaming with
sweat.  Yanking her braid apart with impatient
fingers, she stepped into a short terrycloth robe and
her bathing sandals.   Her carefully packed bath
bucket and towel in hand, she went into the shower
area.

	Communal showers were something that bothered a lot
of people, but athletes learned to get used to it, or
spent  a LOT of time cowering in corners with bright
blushes of embarrassment.   Hitomi had lost her body
modesty enough so that shedding her robe in the small
room before the shower was no trial.   Her body was a
finely honed tool, and if she had bothered to think
about it, she might have been proud of how fit she
looked.

	All ten of the showerheads were going full blast,
with five giggling girls standing underneath them.  
One was gossiping about her current boyfriend, while
the others listened, occasionally adding their own
anecdotes or just commiserating on how incredibly
dense males could be.   In the corner another girl was
standing by herself, holding a book covered with a
Ziploc baggy,  apparently doing some schoolwork.  
Balancing athletics and classes could be hard, and
Hitomi knew that she was lucky that studies came
easily.   Some of her teammates were struggling.

	Normally Hitomi would go over to one of the showers,
crank it up as hot as she could possibly stand it, and
lose herself in the throbbing rhythm of the spray. 
Sometimes it felt like hot needles were trying to
pierce her flesh, but nothing relaxed her more. 
Today, though, she had promise to talk to Bridget so
she glanced around, looking for the sophomore.  She
wasn't there yet, so Hitomi snagged two of the
showerheads and adjusted them to a more reasonable
setting.

	"Ah, Hitomi!  Do you mind if I call you that?   You
can call me Bridget if you like."  The older girl
dashed in, carrying a neon green bath bucket of her
own.  As she jabbered cheerfully, she pulled out a
poof and poured bath gel all over it.  

	"Go ahead," Hitomi agreed, wary eyes following the
older girl.  Bridget was pretty, with deep red hair
cut at a jaunty angle at her chin, and huge eyes that
were a true sapphire blue.  Her bangs framed a small
face, and her body was trim.   Hitomi was taller than
the average Japanese woman, at five-four, but Bridget
was almost Amazonian. She stood just below six feet,
her European heritage clear on sight.

	Bridget laughed.   "You're so cool, you know that?  
I don't think I've ever seen you react to anything
with extreme emotion."

	Hitomi shrugged, then bent over to get her shampoo.  
She hated being so much shorter then most of the other
runners.  Runners weren't typically short.  "I've seen
things that could turn your hair white," Hitomi said
shortly, the bite in her tone not encouraging further
questions.  "After that, you learn not to sweat the
small things."  She poured a generous pool of shampoo
into her hand and lathered her hair, digging deeply
into her scalp with her nails.   

	Bridget wasn't about to be deterred.   "Anyway,
that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," she
said as she started to wash her own hair.   "I was
curious as about why I've never seen you at any of the
team parties- I know Akari-chan is having one tonight,
and we'd love to have you there."

	Hitomi blinked in surprise.   No one ever invited her
to go anywhere anymore, not after she had rejected the
first dozen invites.  She didn't want them to, so it
wasn't a problem, but the unexpected invitation had
her fumbling for a rejection.   She had school; she
had homework-

	And then she felt the tug.

	It was hard to describe exactly, but she knew the
feeling.  It was a pull to agree, much the way she had
felt on Gaea... much like she had felt when reading
the tarot cards.   As if something was telling her
that this was destiny, that this was something she
must do.   Still, she'd had enough of destiny.  It
only brought pain and suffering.  "I'll think about
it," she said, hurriedly rinsing out the soap.   She'd
take a complete shower later, but right now she just
wanted to get away from Bridget.

	"Really?  I'll meet you at your dorm room at nine!"
Bridget bubbled enthusiastically.

	�I didn�t-� she began to protest, but was cut off as
Bridget shook her head to rid her hair of excess water
and darted for the door.   Hitomi watched her go,
feeling like she had just been hit by a
tractor-trailer. 
	
***************************
	
By nine, Hitomi had talked herself out of going.  Even
though it was a Friday and the entire dorm seemed to
be empty, she was studiously reading Hamlet for her
English class.   It was hard for her to make sense of
the play- her English was decent, but the old English
tried all her skills.   The copy she had bought from
the bookstore was well marked, with notes up and down
the margins and highlighting throughout.

	She was well ahead of the class, but she new time was
precious.   Next week she had a meet that she would
have to train for, and there was always the
possibility that something might come up that she
would have to pay attention to. 

	She frowned thoughtfully at the scene where Laertes
and Polonius were taking their leave of each other,
giggling slightly at Polonius� advice.   Parents
didn�t change much, no matter how many centuries apart
they were.  

	The sudden staccato raps on the door made her jump
out of her skin.  She rose to her feet, determined to
get rid of Bridget with all possible haste.   She
really didn�t want to go, despite the tug she felt� or
maybe because of it.

	�Hey, Hitomi!� the other girl said cheerily.   She
was dressed in a flowered tube top with lavender
slacks, chunky shoes, and plenty of glittery body
paint, and her vibrant red hair was streaked with
multiple shades of purple.   �Are you ready-  ACK! 
You can�t mean to wear that!�

	Hitomi looked down at her shorts and T-shirt (which
was emblazoned with the slogan of a meet she had
attended two years ago) and sighed.   �Bridget-  I- �

	The girl shook her head insistently, her red hair
brushing against her high cheekbones.  �I knew you�d
back out if I didn�t come to get you!   Well, let�s
look in your closet and get you ready!�

	�But- �

	Bridget wagged a finger in her face.   �This
anti-social nature of yours has got to go.   It�s one
thing to be aloof, it�s another entirely to be a
hermit!�

	The present: The Hermit�.

	The memory of the tarot reading Yukari had talked her
into performing surfaced unwillingly.   �I have
homework,� she said lamely.

	�And an entire weekend to do it!   I told Akari-chan
that you�d be coming, and she was really excited!  
The other girls really want to get to know you. 
They�re a nice bunch, so there�s no reason to be shy! 
So come on!� Bridget gave her a face that a puppy dog
would have been proud of.

	Hitomi sighed.   Bridget had clearly made up her
mind, and like Yukari, there was no changing it.  
�Fine.  But I�m not going to stay long.�

	�At least till one,� Bridget wheedled.

	�Eleven.�

	�Midnight it is.�   The girl went over to the college
provided wardrobe and flung both its doors wide open
and poked her head in.   Hitomi knew she should be
offended that a virtual  stranger was rummaging
through her stuff, but all she felt was a slight
weariness and a trace of amusement.   Bridget was a
force of nature.  �You have some really pretty things�
maybe a green shirt to bring out your eyes?   Or that
short blue skirt to draw attention to your legs?  Or
how about-� she halted abruptly, her attention riveted
to something she had just seen.

	Hitomi knew what the other girl was looking at.  
�That dress?�

	Bridget�s eyes widened as she pulled out a dress.  
It was cut rather oddly, with a very short front and a
back that would fall almost to her knees, with a flare
from the hips.  The color was rather indescribable,
shading from deep blue to green to turquoise, then
back again.   The scooped-neck was modest, but the
material would cling to each of her curves, making it
clear that Hitomi was very female, and had a
splendidly toned body.  �It�s gorgeous!�

	�My mother gave it to me.   It�s not something I�d
buy for myself- it�s too impractical.�

	�You have to wear it!�

	Hitomi sighed and complied, stripping out of her
study outfit.  The dress slid over her skin like
water, and she was surprised at how feminine it made
her feel.  

	�Now for the make up!� Bridget said gleefully.

	�I don�t wear it.�

	Bridget frowned and dug in her purse to produce an
astounding traveling pharmacy.   �You don�t need it,
much,� she admitted grudgingly.   �But you know,
glitter is required!� Hitomi squeaked as Bridget
advanced on her, waving a tube of silver glitter.  
Bridget was wearing a lot, and Hitomi shuddered to
think what was going to happen to her.

	Five minutes passed before Bridget let her look in a
compact mirror.  To Hitomi�s astonishment, Bridget had
kept it simple, only adding touches of glitter to her
eyelids, cheeks, and a few blue streaks in her hair.  
She rather liked the effect.  �I bet you thought I�d
overdo it.�  

	�The thought did occur to me,� she answered dryly.

	Bridget laughed and tugged Hitomi to her feet.  
�With that dress?  Trust me, no matter what I do, no
one is gonna be looking at your face!�

	�I�ll change, then,� Hitomi volunteered. 

	�No!�  Bridget dragged her over to the full-length
mirror Hitomi's father  had attached to the back of
her door when she moved in.   �You look awesome,
babe!�

	Hitomi was surprised and amazed by the woman staring
back at her.   She was sexy, looking like she had just
stepped out of a teen magazine.   She hadn�t realized
she could look like that� she wished Van could see
her, and she could bask in the admiration his eyes
would reflect.  

	�I do good work,� Bridget preened.   �Come on, we got
a party to get to!�

	Hitomi sighed and grabbed some money for the cover
and her ID card, putting them into the card-carrier
she wore on a cord around her neck.   She would have
liked to take a purse, but she knew that it would only
get in the way.   Chances were that she�d be expected
to dance, and Bridget seemed to have a gift for
railroading her into things. 

	It was barely an hour past sunset, and she fancied
that she could still feel some lingering warmth in the
air.   The air had a vitality that it only seemed to
carry on weekends, and she felt her spirit lifting,
however unwillingly unwillingly.   Yukari and Bridget
were right- she needed to try to have a normal life. 
Van wouldn�t be coming for her, and he wouldn�t want
her to waste her life pining for him.  She made a firm
resolution to at least try to enjoy herself tonight.  
There was no point in being miserable.

	Bridget pulled her to a cherry red PT Cruiser, and
Hitomi giggled.   Leave it to Bridget to drive
something flashy.  Bridget flicked the unlock button
on her key chain, and Hitomi took the passenger�s seat
while Bridget slid behind the wheel.   �Buckle up,
babe,� Bridget warned.

	Hitomi had barely managed to fumble her seatbelt
closed when Bridget turned the ignition, starting the
car, and a sound system that Hitomi thought would
deafen her.  Bridget�s foot hit the gas heavily and
she peeled out of the parking lot, forcing a gasp out
of her passenger.

	�I warned you!  It�s not just running that I do
fast!�

	After seeing Bridget run one red light, Hitomi shut
her eyes and silently offered up every prayer she
could think of.   She should have known Bridget would
be a crazy driver� In ten minutes, they pulled up in
front of a house, after a drive that should have taken
fifteen.  Hitomi felt distinctly off-color, and
wondered if she looked as green as she felt.

	Bridget, though, bounced out of the car obliviously,
hit the auto lock, and hooked her arm through
Hitomi�s, pulling her along.  �Akari-chan throws the
best parties-  her parents bought her a house to live
in while she goes to college.   Every month or so she
throws a bash-  with just a few friends, usually the
track team and their dates.� 

	From the sound coming from the house, Akari had a lot
of friends.   Almost every room in the house was lit
up, or had the distinct look of black lights or
strobes coming from within, pulsing in time with the
sound system that was audible from the street.  The
music had a great beat, and she could see people
dancing, even on the lawn.

	�What�s the cover?� she asked.  She didn�t intend to
drink, but they would still charge her.   They always
did.

	Bridget laughed.  �You�re a member of the track team!
  No cover- Akari-chan sometimes charges the
gatecrashers, but she�s nice to the team.   We�re
family!�

	Hitomi bit her lip to keep from biting out anything
sarcastic.

	People immediately began to flock around them.   Most
greeted Bridget familiarly, and a few offered
tentative hellos to Hitomi as well.   A few guys asked
her to dance or get her a drink, but she shook her
head, smiling slightly to negate any sting her refusal
would give.   �I have to say hello to the hostess,�
she said.

	�I should, too,� Bridget said.   �Is she in the game
room, Ken?�

	A dark-haired boy with eyes to drown in nodded.  
�She took off there with Shinji,� he said.   �I think
they�re back on again.�

	The red-haired gaijin laughed.   �They managed to
stay broken up for all of three days!   A record!�

	�Ain�t it?�

	She smiled and leaned towards Ken, planting a
lingering kiss on his lips.   �We can talk later,
right?   After I get Hitomi comfortable with the
gang?� she asked.

	He placed his hands on hers waist to draw her close
and gave her a passionate kiss as an answer.    �I�m
always up for you, Bri.�

	She laughed, stepped away from him after giving a
flirtatious wink and indicated that Hitomi should
follow her with a jerk of her head.   �Is he your
boyfriend?� Hitomi asked.   

	Bridget grinned at her, flashing white teeth.  �One
of a few.  He has his uses.  I�m not serious, though.�
 Hitomi blushed as she thought of what Bridget
probably meant. 

	The music changed as they passed a refreshment table.
  Bridget grabbed a wine cooler.  �Want one?� she
asked.

	�I don�t drink.�

	�Ahhhh� you subscribe to the whole �body is a shrine�
school of running?�  Hitomi didn�t answer, letting
Bridget draw her own conclusions.   She didn�t like
alcohol.  �In Europe, I like beer, but most of what I
can get here is either American-made, which is simply
horrid.   There�s also some sake, but I never acquired
a taste for the stuff.  So I stick to wine coolers,�
Bridget continued, ignoring her companion�s silence.

	They went through a few more hallways, and up a
flight of stairs before Bridget turned right abruptly.
  �The game room,� she announced.   �You play pool?�

	�No.�

	�Well, one of the guys will teach you- any excuse to
lean over a girl wearing a short skirt!   If I were
you, I�d let Mikado.   He�s really sweet, even if he
does swing both ways- never can make up his mind,�
Bridget blithely babbled on, reminding Hitomi of a
brook.

	The two girls entered, and Hitomi�s senses were
bombarded by music that was even louder then that
playing downstairs, if that was possible.   It took a
second for her to adjust enough to make out the sight
of four guys playing pool, a few at a foosball table,
and a couple on a couch, ardently kissing each other. 
 Hitomi became grateful for the dim lighting, because
she knew she�d never live down the blush that made her
feel dizzy.   

	�Oi, Akari-chan!� Bridget called, plowing right in
where angels might fear to tread.   �I brought Hitomi
with me!�

	The couple pulled apart, and Hitomi recognized Akari,
one of the team�s better runners.   She sat in the lap
of a handsome young man that Hitomi shared her
Shakespearean English class with.  Akari giggled,
sounding sloshed to the gills, as she straightened her
shirt.  �Heya, Kanzaki-sama!   Decide to mingle with
the peons finally?� she asked, coming to her feet
wobbly.

	Hitomi�s stomach dropped.   This wasn�t going to be
pretty.   Akari was apparently a mean drunk.  
�Finally decide we�re good enough?�

	�I�ve been busy with school.   I have a scholarship
to keep,� she said.

	�Trying to graduate first in class?   Not only are
you content to totally destroy any chance the rest of
us have to make ourselves a name in track, but you
have to show us up in the classroom as well?  Can�t be
anything less then perfect?�

	Bridget frowned as Hitomi�s eyes went ice cold. 
�Akari-chan!   What�s wrong with you!   You wanted
Hitomi to come!� Bridget protested.

	Akari snorted.  �Well, I did.  But I don�t want her
to be looking down on me!  Just �cause I can�t pass
Trig without trying!�

	Bridget winced.   �Are you still hung up about that? 
It was only one test, Akari-chan!  And you have no
right to get mad at Hitomi- she studies constantly! 
And she hasn�t even said anything condescending to
you!�

	�She never says anything to us!  Putting on airs,
acting like a princess� we�re so lucky she graced us
with her presence!�

	 �I�m sorry you feel that way, Wakahara-san,� she
said in a polite voice, though she wasn�t.   What did
she care?  �It was a mistake for me to come here.� 
She nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

	Bridget caught up with her in the hallway.  �I�m so
sorry!   I forgot what she got like when she was
drunk- she didn�t mean it!�

	�Yes, she did,� Hitomi answered.   �I�m going to go
home- you stay here and have fun, okay?   I appreciate
you trying to get me involved, but I�m not a very
social person.�

	�Well, at least stay until you meet my cousin!�
Bridget said, her voice pleading.   �He�s new to
campus, so I don�t think you�ve met.  And he�s a
really nice guy- I think you�ll have more in common
with him then most people.�

	�Fine.  After that, though, I�m leaving.�  She was
annoyed that she�d let herself be talked into coming
in the first place, and she would be damned if she�d
let anyone match make for her.   She�d already given
her heart away irrevocable.

	�You really have to give things a chance.   I think
you�ll like him� he�s almost as unsociable as you!   I
had to get him to promise to show up here on our
grandfather�s grave.�

	Hitomi obediently followed Bridget, weaving through
the gyrating crowd.   One man goosed her, and she
turned around, ready to throw him into the wall.   The
drunk caught a glimpse of the anger in her eyes, and
wisely retreated.  �Bridget�� she said warningly.

	�He�s in the library!� Bridget said.   �He always
retreats to the quietest place!�  Hitomi didn�t blame
him.   The blasting music, the strobe lights, and
drunken students were all giving her a headache.   

	Finally Bridget dragged her into a dimly lit room
located in the corner of the building, shutting the
heavy oak door behind her.  �You in here, cous?� she
called.

	�Against my better judgment,� a dry mail voice
answered, one that sent shivers dancing up her spine. 
Eerily familiar, its timbre and tone reminded her of
how Van had spoken whenever Merle was teasing him.  
�I�ll meet your friend, then I�m out of here.�  Hitomi
couldn�t make out anything except for a slender male
silhouette.

	Bridget laughed.   �You�re impossible!�  She motioned
Hitomi closer.  �Hitomi, this is Donovan Masanori, who
is my cousin when he isn�t being too impossible.  
Van, I�d like you to meet the fastest girl on campus,
Kanzaki Hitomi.�

	Hitomi�s breath caught as the young man stepped out
of the shadows.   Even though the features were
several years older, they were unmistakable those of
Van Fanel.

	�Van?� she whispered.

END JUDGMENT

UP NEXT: 
STAR

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"No matter what the bible says, the battle always goes to
the strong. And I am strong. I don't need to prove that to
anyone anymore."
-Excerpt from Sainan no Kekka- Act Seven, Scene VII

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