Anywhere Is
an Escaflowne fanfic
by Mouse
Author's note: The Vision of Escaflowne and all associated material is
copyright @1996 by Sunrise & Bandai Visual. This is a non-profit fan work &
is not intended to infringe on said copyright.
To leave the thread of all time
and let it make a dark line
in hopes that I can still find
the way back to the moment
I took the turn and turned to
begin a new beginning
still looking for the answer
I cannot find the finish....
Enya, "Anywhere Is"
Chapter One
Gaea
There were times, Cyn mused as she stirred the soup, that she really
preferred camping out in the forest -- the mountain forests were cooler than
the lowlands in the summer, and if you threw some daich-leaves on the fire
the pungent smell would keep off the bugs while you slept. Not that spending
the night in an inn would've been bad, mind you, especially if the customers
paid well for an evenings entertainment. But on such a calm, clear night, it
was nice to be out in the clean air with the stars and moons peeking through
the branches overhead.
Cyn spooned some of the soup out of the kettle, tasted it and ladled
more into one of two wooden bowls. "I think it's ready, Kell."
Sitting cross-legged on the other side of the fire, her brother nodded
absentmindedly, alternately picking out a melody on his gittern and
scribbling furiously in the notebook spread out in front of him.
Cyn sighed. "Kell, it's gonna get cold." No answer. "I'll eat it all
myself, y'know." She filled the second bowl and shoved it toward him.
"Kellan..." , she growled, exasperated. Their horse, tethered just beyond
the firelight, started at her tone.
"Huh?" Kellan looked up. "Oh, is it ready?" He set his instrument
aside and picked up the soup, taking a long swallow straight from the bowl
"Thanks, sis. This is great."
Cyn rolled her eyes. It was impossible for her to stay mad at him when
he grinned at her like that -- his good humor was just too infectious.
Still, she wasn't ready to let it go yet. "Honestly, you'd have starved to
death by now, if I didn't bring you back to ground once in a while."
"That's why you're here, sis, isn't it? You always were the practical
one -- it's what you do."
Cyn sighed and set aside her empty bowl, letting Kellan take the rest of
the soup for himself. She lay back on her bedroll and looked up at the two
moons. That was her, all right -- always the responsible older sister.
Sometimes, she got really tired of it.
Kellan glanced at her in between mouthfuls, noticed her pensive mood and
followed her gaze upwards. "Hey, the Mystic Moon is really bright tonight,
isn't it?"
"Mmm." Cyn chewed at a ragged fingernail. "I wonder what it's like
there...."
Kellan set down his empty bowl and tilted his head back, trying to get a
better look at the bright blue orb overhead. "Well, we know people live
there, so it can't be too much different. Except that they have magic
powers, of course."
Cyn snorted. "I knew you were spending too much time listening to that
Asturian
trader's stories, Kell. 'A girl with magical powers just dropped out of the
sky and helped win the Zaibach War. Then she just disappeared -- poof!'"
Kellan shrugged. "Hey, he was there during the war. And he's not the
only one I've heard that story from."
"Maybe I'd believe it more if I heard it from sober people."
"A girl from the Mystic Moon...." Kellan got that gleam in his eye
again, and Cyn
levered herself up with a groan as she saw him pick up the gittern.
Obviously, it was going to be up to her to clean up again. She picked up the
bowls and spoons, tossed them in the empty kettle with a clatter and started
down to the nearby stream. "If you're gonna write a song about it," she said
over her shoulder, "make it a nice romantic one. The tips are better if you
can make the ladies all teary-eyed."
"Uhhuh." Kellan wasn't even really listening to her, lost in that place
he went to when he composed. He could be on the Mystic Moon itself, for all
that. As she passed the tethered horse, it looked up from its grazing and
snorted. Cyn patted its neck affectionately. "You and me, girl -- at least
we've got our feet on the ground."
Earth
Hitomi Kanzaki eyed the horse uneasily as she climbed up on the mounting
block. Standing at the horse's head, Christina Alvarez put one hand on her
hip and blew her black curls back out of her eyes. "Whenever you're ready,
Hitomi."
Hitomi nodded, taking a deep breath. Left hand on the neck, she recited
to herself, right hand on the saddle, left foot in the stirrup and swing
over. She'd seen Christina do this so many times, but as she tried it now
she realized even such a simple thing could be difficult. She thumped down
into the saddle, grimacing at her lack of grace. Christina raised an
eyebrow, and JoJo, the schoolhorse, yawned.
"Ano, should I try it again?" Hitomi asked, shifting in the saddle in an
attempt to get comfortable.
"No, that's ok, just sit still while I adjust the stirrups." Christina
bustled around the horse, pulling on various straps and setting the reins
correctly in her friend's hands. Hitomi attempted to stay still, but it
wasn't easy. JoJo was a big horse, and as round as a barrel -- even with her
long bones, Hitomi felt as if her legs were sticking straight out on either
side, and the flat English saddle didn't offer much to hold onto.
"Ok, you're all set." Christina stepped back and gave her a reassuring
grin. "Pick up the reins and ask her to walk."
Setting her mouth in a determined line, Hitomi sat up as tall as she
could and gave the mare a firm nudge with her heels. The sudden lurch as
JoJo stepped forward took her completely by surprise, however. She yelped as
she pitched forward in the saddle, grabbing frantically at the front of it.
"No, no, sit up!" Christina was trying desperately not to laugh, and
failing miserably.
Slowly, Hitomi managed to regain her balance as she adjusted to the way
the mare moved. As she listened to Christina's instructions, learning to use
her hands and legs to tell the horse what she wanted, she began to relax and
enjoy the new experience of seeing the world from horseback.
Everything is so different here. She had jumped at the chance to study
in America, both for the opportunity and the need to escape the memory of her
strange adventure that her everyday surroundings could not erase. To her
delight, Texas did indeed turn out to be as strange and wonderful a place as
she had hoped -- though not quite as she had imagined it. There were cities,
but they sprawled outward more than the ones in Japan, and everyone drove
cars instead of taking trains or walking. She'd been here for months and
still hadn't seen a cow, and the cowboys she had seen all had trucks, not
horses. Her roommate still didn't understand why Hitomi had been so excited
over Christina's actually owning a horse, and why she was disappointed that
Christina rode English-style.
Still, there was so many things that she found she liked here. Take the
way people felt about what a young woman should do with her life. At home,
pursuing her enthusiasm for track and field after high school had met with
distinct disapproval from her family, and even her friends felt that she
should "stop playing and grow up." Here, everyone seemed ready to encourage
her to continue training -- Christina was only half-joking when she said she
expectedto watch her new friend win a Gold medal at the Olympics someday.
Actually, she mused, as she brought JoJo to a successful halt in the
center of the arena,meeting Christina had been the best part of her time
here. The other girl had immediately taken Hitomi under her wing, determined
to introduce her to every aspect of being an American college student. Her
independence was what Hitomi admired most -- she had her own car, lived in an
apartment instead of at home, held a teaching job at the stable as well as
going to school, and always let you know exactly what she thought about any
subject, regardless of what anyone else might think.
Right now, she was attaching a longe line to JoJo's bridle. "Ok, you've
got the walk down pretty good, let's try a little trot work before we finish."
"You mean that funny thing -- what do you call it?"
"'Posting', it's called 'posting'!" Christina rolled her eyes again.
"Remember what I told you, let the horse push you up from the saddle as she
trots. JoJo, head up!"
The mare began trotting in a large circle at the end of the line, with
Hitomi desperately trying to catch the rhythm of it as she rose up and down
in the saddle. This part was too much like work, she decided, especially
since the weather was still warm, even though it was autumn. Then, all of a
sudden, everything fell into place; she felt the surge from the back as the
horse stepped forward push her up, and she came down easily to meet it again.
Two strides, three, four -- it was wonderful! "Yatta!" she murmured under
her breath, not wanting to break her concentration.
"All right, Hitomi!" Christina grinned from ear to ear.
"Holy cow! Is that Hitomi on a horse?" The loud voice booming from the
arena gate startled both teacher and student. Neither of them had noticed
Sandy, the barn owner's daughter and resident horse trainer, arriving.
Hitomi lost her rhythm and bounced awkwardly in the saddle, while Christina
brought the mare to a halt.
"Thanks, Sandy; she was going real good there, you know."
"Sorry!" Sandy leaned her tall frame over the gate, not looking the
least bit sorry.
"That's why I don't teach beginners, y'know. I've been known to make small
children cry."
Hitomi laughed. "I'm not a small child, Sandy-san. You don't frighten
me!"
"You ought to be," Christina muttered. " You don"t have to take lessons
from her."
Sandy shrugged. "Hey, I can't help it if you're a wimp about jumping."
Christina put her hands on her hips. "Mou! I'm not a wimp!" Hitomi
giggled. While
Christina had worked with her to smooth out the stilted English she'd learned
in school, Hitomi had noticed certain Japanese phrases creeping into her
friend's speech lately.
"Well, that's good enough for today." Christina began to coil up the
longe line and motioned for Hitomi to dismount.
"Really? I can do more..."
Sandy and Christina exchanged knowing glances. "Really, even as fit as
you are, riding uses different muscles, " the trainer explained. "You'll
feel it tomorrow, hon. I'm just surprised Christina managed to talk you into
it."
Hitomi shrugged. "I like trying different things." She managed to swing
down out of the saddle without looking too clumsy, then removed the light
plastic helmet she wore, shaking out her short brown hair. As if in
imitation, Jojo shook herself as Hitomi slipped the reins over her head and
loosened the girth. Hitomi gently stroked the mare's nose, marveling at how
soft it was. "Arigatou, JoJo."
"C'mon, Hitomi!" Christina called from the gate. "After we take care of
her, we can watch Sandy ride 'Tude, and then go get something to eat."
Hitomi hurried to catch up with the smaller girl. " Taco C's, right?"
Mexican food was one of the best things she'd discovered here.
"You betcha!"
Hitomi settled back into the passenger seat of Christina's car with a
contented sigh. Her friend spared a quick smile before turning her attention
back to the road. "I told you it would be fun."
"Mm, you were right. I'll have to write home and tell everyone I finally
got to ride a
horse." The burp that suddenly escaped made Hitomi blush. "Gomen ne!"
Christina laughed. "No problem, I'm about to burst, too! I'll bet you'll
really miss Taco C when you go back."
Hitomi frowned. She was hoping that she could get her scholarship
extended. Lately, she was more and more certain that home would no longer
feel like home to her, after living here. And not when my thoughts
go...elsewhere. She looked up at the deep blue sky, but all that was visible
were a few high clouds and the pale day-shadow of the moon. Gaea could not
be seen from the Earth, but there were still moments like this when, out of
the blue, she felt its pull as strongly as ever. Will I ever feel at home,
now, anywhere?
Christina sighed, too. "Well, now that we've had our fun, I suppose
we'd better knuckle down and study tonight."
"You and Austin aren't going out tonight?"
"No, he's got to work -- seems like he's the only one that'll do
Saturday graveyard." Christina shrugged. "I'll just have to see him at
church tomorrow."
"Going your own way has a price." Hitomi could feel for Christina's
boyfriend and his efforts to get free of a controlling family. But it wasn't
a subject she really wanted to continue
on, because....
"Y'know, Hitomi--"
....here came the inevitable follow-up....
"--you ought to go out with someone, sometime. Austin's got some nice
friends, I could have him ask one of them--"
Hitomi cut her off. "It's ok, Christina, really. I don't mind being
alone. I've got so
much to do as it is, and it would just make things more...complicated."
Christina pulled in the driveway of their apartments and parked the car.
She didn't look at Hitomi as she spoke. "'Complicated' as in, you might not
want to leave them."
"Yes." Hitomi made a show of hunting for her keys in her purse,
attempted to hide her discomfort.
Christina placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Hey, that's all right. I
understand. I just worry about you, ok? After all, we're friends, ne?"
"Hai." Taken by impulse, Hitomi gave her a quick hug. " See, I'm ok
now!"
"Really. Then why are you looking in your purse, when I've got my keys
right here?" Christina laughed and hopped out of the car. Her face fell as
she looked up at the apartment building. "Oh, great. The Creep's waiting
for us."
Hitomi got out of the car and came around the side to stand close to
her friend. "Why do you call him that, Christina? He doesn't do anything."
Their upstairs neighbor's lanky figure was clearly visible as he leaned
against the wall of the building.
"He gives me the creeps, that's why. Always hanging around, watching us
-- especially you." The smaller girl bristled as she started across the
parking lot.
Hitomi hurried after her, trying unsuccessfully to appear calm and
unconcerned. To be truthful, the man upstairs made her feel the same way.
He wasn't exactly a prepossessing figure; he was too thin, his clothes looked
second hand and his hair hung in wispy strands to his shoulders. He rarely
left his apartment, didn't seem to have a job -- Christina said she'd heard
he lived on some sort of disability payment. But he always seemed to be
watching when they came and went, which drove her roommate crazy. Christina
was convinced he would do them harm. "I'll bet he's an axe murderer," she
would say, "And they let him out on parole by mistake."
As they crossed the parking lot, Hitomi paused. For an instant, she
felt the whole world suddenly shift. The figure under the stairs changed;
now wrapped in dark robes, it reached out a menacing hand. A lump formed in
her throat, as if some spell thrown in that single gesture had stolen her
breath and frozen her in place.
She forced herself to draw a deep breath. Just as quickly, the vision
faded. The ragged figure became the Creep again, still menacing but with
nothing of the supernatural about him. Hitomi set her jaw and hurried after
Christina.
As they walked past him, he waved casually to them. "Hi, girls."
Christina's dark eyes glared daggers at him. "Excuse us!" She hustled
Hitomi inside before he could say anything else. "Ooooo, he's got nerve!
If there was just some way, something I could show to the manager, I'd have
him kicked out in an instant!"
Hitomi sighed and stretched out on their couch, closing her eyes. The
unbidden vision had left her feeling drained, as they always did. As much as
she tried to ignore it, her precognitive talent had never left her
completely. But she had long ago decided not to rely on it, or let it
dominate her life. "Don't worry, Christina." she said, forcing the vision
from her mind, "I think he's too afraid of you to try anything."
"He'd better be." Her roommate's mood shifted as she sat down next to
Hitomi, listlessly picking at the stack of textbooks on the coffee table.
"Homework. I really don't feel like doing homework."
"Me either." Hitomi opened her eyes and nudged Christina with her foot.
"I feel like a video. And popcorn."
"Sounds good to me." Christina got up and began to search the kitchen.
"Which movie?"
Hitomi gave her a pleading look. "Titanic?"
"Again?! Aren't you tired of that?"
Hitomi shook her head. "It's so sad! And romantic. Onegai, pleeeeaaase!"
"All right, I give. You set it up, I'll pop the popcorn."
"Itai!" Hitomi's muscles protested as she stretched out before her run
early the next morning. It seemed that Sandy had been right; she ached in
places she never knew could hurt. But laying around would only make her
stiffen up more. She gritted her teeth and forced herself out of bed and
into her track suit, into her usual morning routine. Stretches first --
extra ones today -- and then out the door. A quick glance upstairs showed no
sign of their ominous neighbor; even he must still be asleep.
She walked the first part, letting her muscles warm more, then
progressed to a jog until she got to the University campus. By the time she
reached the track, she was more than ready for her sprints.
Running had always been her passion, the thing that made her feel most
alive. This morning, with the cool breeze of early morning whipping past, her
long legs stretching out in a steady rhythm that echoed her heartbeat, she
felt it more keenly than ever. She'd been longing for it since yesterday,
watching Sandy ride that arrogant black stallion across the arena, and
realizing that the tall blonde felt the same thing when she rode.
As if you were one with everything. Like horse and rider...like...like
flying....
Something brushed against her face, so briefly she didn't see it
clearly. Hitomi slowed, turned and walked back down the track to look at it,
even though she knew what it would be. The white feather gleamed in the
early morning light as she picked it up.
Van. She looked up, then around, although she didn't really expect to
see him. There had been that one glimpse, while waiting for the train that
day, after she told her friends that she would no longer tell fortunes.
After that, only the occasional feather, which served nonetheless to bring
the memory of him back as clear as if he was standing there.
Have you been thinking of me, too? Do you even still think of me the
same way, or am I just a troubling memory, that gets in the way of life?
She sighed and put the feather in her jacket pocket. The sun had risen
enough that the air was becoming uncomfortably warm. Time to go back.
By the time Hitomi reached the apartment, her mood had lightened again.
Her stomach had begun to grumble, and she hoped Christina had made something
good for breakfast. Cereal was fine for weekdays, but Sundays deserved more.
She skipped eagerly up the sidewalk, fumbling in her pocket for the key.
"Hey, you, wait a minute!" A hand suddenly gripped her arm, hard,
twisting her around. Hitomi gasped as she looked up into the face of the
Creep.
"Let me go!" She pulled against his grasp, panic rising fast.
"Hey, take it easy!" He grabbed her by the other arm then, pushing her
back against the wall of the building. "It's ok, I'm not gonna hurt ya, I
just wanna talk." He let go then, holding up his hands to prove his
intentions, but still standing close enough to keep her from leaving.
"Talk." Hitomi rubbed her arms, watching for an opportunity to escape.
"Talk about what?"
He shifted nervously, his eyes never leaving hers. "About you, Hitomi
-- it is Hitomi, right?" Her nod seemed to give him confidence to continue.
"About you, and me. See, I know how it is -- you see things, don't ya?
Things that aren't there -- don't deny it," he added as she started to
protest.
Hitomi felt a coldness creeping its way up through her chest. She put
her hand in her pocket, finding her key -- and the feather. If she could get
past him somehow....if she screamed, someone would hear her....
"See, I can see things, too -- things that aren't there. Go places, too,
places that I thought no one else could go." He was babbling now, leaning
closer, his hands coming forward to rest on the wall on either side of her.
"Until I saw you, Hitomi. I knew, when I saw you, you'd been there, too.
'Cause it marks you, that place, and it won't ever let go." He leaned even
closer, whispering it in her ear. "Gaea."
The fear overflowed in her then. Hitomi screamed, lashing out at him,
catching him in the stomach with one elbow. As he doubled over he grabbed at
her legs, pulling her down with him. Hitomi kicked hard at him, felt his
grip loosen as he cursed at her. Stumbling to her feet, her one thought was
to run, knowing he could not match her speed.
She sprinted forward, in a blind panic, only wanting to put as much
space as possible between her and him. She didn't realize the street was in
front of her, didn't see the car that came suddenly around the corner, too
fast to stop.
It was black. Everything was black, except....
Except for the single white feather, drifting slowly down to touch
lightly in her palm.
She cupped it carefully in both hands, hearing the rush of wings all
around her....
*Gaea*
"Cyn? Hey, Cyn, she moved -- she's awake!"
A strange voice -- a male voice. Coming up through what felt like thick
veils in her mind, Hitomi tried to sort what had happened, where she was.
Grass. There was grass by her face, and...a tree. She blinked, tried
to focus. More trees, all around. She rolled over, and the movement made
her head hurt, and her vision went fuzzy again.
"Whoa, careful there!" Whoever it was, it didn't sound like her
attacker. "You've been out cold all night."
Voices. It was two voices, one male, one female. Police?, she wondered.
Why was she lying here, instead of in a hospital? What had he meant, out
cold all night? She was sure it had been morning....
Her hand closed, felt the softness of the feather. Feathers.
Blackness, and feathers....
Suddenly, she knew. Opening her eyes, she saw the sky above her. The
day-shadow of the moon, and looming behind it, the pale blue orb of the Earth.
I'm here again. Gaea.
...to be continued...