A *New* Vision

THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Hiroki was seething. Merelu tried to remember a time that she had ever seen him this mad, but she couldn't think of any.

"What do you mean, 'he's gone'?"

Merelu tried desperately to calm Hiroki down, but it wouldn't work.

"We can't have the wedding if he's not here!"

Merelu frowned. She was ashamed that it took her three hours to tell him. "Then, we'll just have to postpone it until he comes back." Hiroki sighed. "Besides, with Shiro, Chu-ni, and Kerenai missing, it'd be a little difficult to have the wedding anyway."

Allen pulled the straps holding his sister tighter. With Van gone, and Escaflowne unguarded, he was worried what would happen if she got loose.

Serena was still asleep from the sedatives. Allen was thankful for that. After the last two incidents, he didn't want to take any chances. Especially after what Van had said.

Allen fell back into his chair. The day had been so long, and it wasn't nearly over! He was having trouble keeping up with it all. He was over 40! How did he get to be so old in such a short time? Of course, he was still amazingly handsome, debonair, and suave, but there weren't any girls to chase him! Oh, sure! Every now and then, when he took Serena to a street fair, there would be girls swooning, but not on a day-to-day basis! Even if he wasn't going to pursue any more girls, it would still be nice to know that you were being pursued!

Allen closed his eyes, just for a minute to imagine the only two women he had ever loved, still alive. There was Marlene, Millerna's sister, who left for an arranged marriage in Freid, and then Hitomi. He had truly loved Hitomi, no matter what they said about "Fate Alteration".

Allen slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his daydream. Suddenly, he gasped. His sister was missing! Allen stood, drew his sword and looked around, just in time to have a large knife put to his throat.

"Drop your sword, girlie!" whispered the voice from behind him.

The only sound was the metallic "clank" as Allen's sword hit the marble floor, scratching the surface.

"Good. Now walk to the door." Allen took his first step. "Slowly! Slowly!" Allen took his next, shallower step. "Good, good. I'm surprised you can follow orders, girlie-man!"

As Allen reached the door, he came to a stop. "Now, open the door." Nothing. The knife was pulled closer to the back of Allen's neck. "Now, sissy!"

"I can't," he choked.

"What do you mean 'I can't'?"

"I don't…have the…key."

"You're no use! Break the fucking door down!" Allen kicked the door as hard as he could, and a hinge came loose. "Again!" He kicked again and three screws fell out. "Again!" Seven screws. "AGAIN!" The door fell off of its hinges. Allen's hand reached out and tapped the door, which, quite accommodatingly, fell down into the hallway. "Good! Now you stay here until I'm ready for you." The knife released from Allen's neck, only to conk him on the back of the head and sending him spiraling into darkness.

Megumi bowed in humiliation more than anything else. This was possibly one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. And she had had a lot. A whole lot. "Gomen," she managed finally to spit out. Truth was she probably could've kept her mouth shut and he never would've noticed that she had come in, but as it was, he noticed her very readily.

Walking in on the Duke in the shower has got to be difficult to live down.

"Megumi!" Chid finally noticed her presence, and even though she wasn't looking, he grabbed the towel and wrapped it around his waist, turning off the water. "What is it?! What's the matter?" Truth told, he blushed bright pink, as did she.

"Gomen! Damo…" she tried desperately to remain bowing so that she didn't see anything she shouldn't. But at the same time… "The advising counsel wants you right away." Satisfying her curiosity, she peeked up for a minute, but was disappointed to notice that he had already put on a towel. Probably for the best.

"Thank you, Megumi." She didn't move. "Is there something else?"

"No, sir, I just…I can't stand until you're dressed."

Chid smiled. He wasn't quite sure if that was exactly the policy, but he didn't mind. He found her so cute that it was difficult to mind. So he turned around and took off the towel and grabbed his robe for the day.

Luckily for Megumi, this time when she peeked, she got a great glimpse of his butt! 'Wow!' she thought. 'Kawaii!!' Quickly, she lowered her head again because she felt she was being very evil, among other things.

"Do you know what it is that they want, Megumi?"

Megumi piped up. "I think it's a message from Fanelia, sir." She cringed to think what his reaction would be.

Chid froze. Fanelia. Finally, he whispered, "Thank you, Megumi. You're excused."

She stood and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Kerenai always took big, "manly" strides. She felt it pointless to put in more effort to walk half the pace with small, "feminine" steps, even when wearing women's clothes. But now, while pacing back and forth, she shuffled her feet like her mother always tried to get her to. Maybe it was the nervousness.

Shiro made a groaning noise. The first one in two hours.

Kerenai's head, staring at the dirt floor, shot up. She ran to Shiro's bed and kneeled beside him. "How can I make you more comfortable?" she asked, not expecting an answer.

Shiro, slowly, lifted one hand to Kerenai's face. She leaned in closer because she knew it was indescribably painful for him. "Just…Just being here…You make me more comfortable." He managed to say.

She couldn't take it any more. Kerenai took Shiro's hand and kissed it. Then she had a good cry. She hadn't cried in 13 rotations. "This is what you do to me!" she shouted. "Why are you so damn perfect?"

Shiro wasn't listening. The pain had knocked him out again. But she didn't notice.

Allen sat up slowly, rubbing the back of his aching head. He couldn't quite remember what had happened. He looked around him. Where…?

A male nurse with a clipboard walked into the room. "Ah, I see you've woken up, Schezar-sama! What good news!"

Allen looked at the man inquisitively. What exactly happened…DILANDAU!

Allen pushed the man out of the way and ran out of the room. He had to tell Hiroki, if no one else!

Dilandau was lost, at best. How the hell did they rebuild Fanelia? He hadn't burned it to the ground too long ago! But now, there were forests and building and people. Happy people! How revolting!

He spotted a clothesline with some almost normal clothes, so he stole them and put them on. At least they fit him.

He rounded a corner, and fearing being recognized, he entered a forest. Navigating here did not seem much easier.

But suddenly he saw it. Not that he was necessarily looking for it. But there it was; Escaflowne. This was a good spot to remember how to get to once he had a guymelef (that wasn't possessed), so he could destroy Escaflowne!

Chu-ni opened his eyes slowly. He looked around him, but he didn't recognize anything. He couldn't even remember how he had gotten there. Funny, he thought, it looked nice enough, but wherever he was, it smelt horrible!

He stood up and walked to the window. Well, he was in a forest. He tried to remember…He was in Fanelia, and he had spied on the emergency meeting and then…he was following Kerenai…the shack! He fell through the roof! Chu-ni cringed. How could he have been so stupid? He smacked his forehead, but, for some reason, it hurt. A lot. He let out a grunt.

D'Artagnan and Kerenai ran into the room from different entrances, both with swords drawn. When they realized who it was, each relaxed, but Chu-ni was scared almost shitless, to say the least.

Dilandau was lost, at best. How the hell did they rebuild Fanelia? He hadn't burned it to the ground too long ago! But now, there were forests and building and people. Happy people! How revolting!

He spotted a clothesline with some almost normal clothes, so he stole them and put them on. At least they fit him.

He rounded a corner, and fearing being recognized, he entered a forest. Navigating here did not seem much easier.

But suddenly he saw it. Not that he was necessarily looking for it. But there it was; Escaflowne. This was a good spot to remember how to get to once he had a guymelef (that wasn't possessed), so he could destroy Escaflowne!

Chu-ni opened his eyes slowly. He looked around him, but he didn't recognize anything. He couldn't even remember how he had gotten there. Funny, he thought, it looked nice enough, but wherever he was, it smelt horrible!

He stood up and walked to the window. Well, he was in a forest. He tried to remember…He was in Fanelia, and he had spied on the emergency meeting and then…he was following Kerenai…the shack! He fell through the roof! Chu-ni cringed. How could he have been so stupid? He smacked his forehead, but, for some reason, it hurt. A lot. He let out a grunt.

D'Artagnan and Kerenai ran into the room from different entrances, both with swords drawn. When they realized who it was, each relaxed, but Chu-ni was scared almost shitless, to say the least.

Dryden seemed very confused. That was not reassuring. Van had hoped that Dryden would spring forth with the answer to his problem, as he had always done in the past. But that just didn't happen.

"Let's see…" Dryden rubbed his chin in meditation. His face dropped. "I don't know what to tell you, Van. There are so many unknown factors…variables…that it's difficult to say which is responsible for Shiro's state."

Van leaned across the table and picked poor Dryden up by the collar. "Tell me what to do, Dryden! You have to know!" Van screamed so forcefully that he sprayed Dryden with a mixture of saliva and sweat.

Dryden, calm and collected as always, merely replied, "Let me think a minute," at which point Van relaxed his body completely and collapsed into his chair.

Dryden pondered the dilemma in silence as Van passed into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Dilandau? Loose? This couldn't be happening! Not now! Not ever!

Hiroki sank into his seat. Trying to comprehend all this was too difficult! What could he do? He couldn't dispatch the army or samurai or guymelefs…that would cause a panic. He was and advisor, not a king! Maybe Allen had an idea!

"Schezar-sama, so you have any suggestions?"

As he saw Allen's sullen face, Hiroki's heart sank, again.

"We need a cover. Let me think. Listen, don't tell the elders, okay? If this gets out, I'll…"

Hiroki cut him off, "What do you mean? I can't do that!"

"Here, drink this slowly." Kerenai held the chicken broth up to Chu-ni's lips. He ever-so delicately took a small sip from the broth. No matter what he did, the pain in his head would NOT reside. The initial numbness from waking up had given him enough time to walk around for a minute, but now, he could barely even move his legs.

Kerenai frowned. She felt weird being all "motherly." Especially towards the crowned princes of two of the most influential countries on Gaea!

She looked over her left shoulder at the thin curtain that separated Chu-ni and Shiro's rooms. Originally a pastey white curtain, it was now stained red with blood. Kerenai wanted to run in there and make it all better, but she knew there was nothing she could do to help. D'Artagnan was doing all he could to calm Shiro down, but it didn't help. The pain was just too much for him. He was conscious now and couldn't even control his jaw enough to speak. D'Artagnan had to put a sock in his mouth to keep him from biting off his tongue. It also helped to muffle the noise.

Kerenai wiped her hair behind her ears. She had been up for the past fifty-six hours and was getting worried about Van-sama. But right now, she had to focus on Chu-ni. He needed her, too, now. And she actually could help him.

Chid just sat there. He felt self-conscious, but still, he just sat there. He stared at his "advising counsel" expecting something. He wasn't sure exactly what, but he was expecting something.

"We could just claim neutrality. That we don't want to get involved. We could leave it at that."

Chid shot a piercing glance at the source of the ignorant comment. "You don't get it, do you?" Chid stood from his seat, pounding his fist on the table. "There are two problems here; first, the Fanelian Royal Family's problem, which we don't really need to get involved in, but second, Dilandau is not just a Fanelian problem, and it's not a war against Zaibach! It's Gaea at stake if we take any risks now! We must do something!" The advisors froze. Now they were expecting something. Chid relaxed. "Dispatch 250 of the guymelefs to Fanelia. Send 20 levyships, and 900 foot soldiers."

The silence in the room was broken by the murmur among the advisors. Chid was outraged. "Do you object to my decision, gentlemen?"

Finally someone spoke up, "Well, that leaves the nation vulnerable to enemy attack. Only having 50 guymelefs stationed at home…"

"Which is more important; Freid or Gaea? Which comes first on your priority list? I have half a mind to send all 300, but I know you'd all have heart attacks if I did!"

The advisors were silent. No use arguing with him now.

"And I shall lead the front."

Once more the silence was broken.

"My only advise to him would be…" Dryden stopped. "would be to…" He just couldn't say it.

Millerna's tears were saturating her cheeks. "What? What should he do? Poor Van." She squeezed Suko tightly. "My dear Chu-ni!" she thought.

Dryden's voice dropped flatly. "Just to pray."

Millerna gasped. "No. There has to be something we can do for Shiro!"

Dryden tried to explain, "Millerna, with Van, it was different. His injuries were caused by…" Wait! What could this mean? The blood pact couldn't bind all of Van's children, could it? Shiro shared Van's blood!

Dryden jumped to his feet and ran to where he had left Van sleeping.

Millerna stood. "Dryden! Dryden! Where are you going?"

Dilandau smiled. The young boy playing happily with a dog…It had bitten him. Dilandau could hardly contain his joy.

He couldn't take it anymore, though. He needed a weapon of some sort. A sword, a guymelef, a meat tenderizer… ANYTHING! He just had to destroy something!

As he krept around the corner, he saw about twenty-five guymelefs being loaded. Strangely, there were some high-tech gizmos on each that he'd never seen before. Odder still was that they belonged to a silly dirtball nation like Fanelia!

One of the workers turned around to flirt with some hussy. "Now's my chance!" Dilandau ran full speed up behind the couple and jumped into his brand new guymelef. Pulling it out of the hangar, a few tried to stop him, but they were no match for him.

As Dilandau started stomping through the forrest, he heard an alarm go off. "Idiots" was the only word that passed his lips as he charged towards Escaflowne's "safe haven."

"Van! Where's Hitomi's pendant?!"

Van knew exactly what Dryden was talking about. "Thank you!" Van ran towards the open window, spreading, with great pain, he immense pitch black wings, taking off through it as Dryden followed.

"Don't do anything rash, Van!" Dryden's face turned pale as he though of what might happen in Van didn't calm down.

Millerna ran into the room just in time to see the look on Dryden's face. "What's going to happen?"

She had obviously startled her husband. "I don't know, dear. I just don't know." He sat, rubbing his temples. Millerna stood behind him, holding his hand and giving him a small kiss on the cheek. Dryden turned to a guard, "Call the Minister of Defense." The guard bowed, and began walking. "Now!" The guard ran from the room.

Kerenai took a deep breath. She knew that the smell was going to get to her, so she wanted to enjoy the fresh air for just one second before going in.

"You called, Shiro?" As she moved the damp curtain to the side to let herself in, she almost gasped. Shiro was lying on the floor, absolutely drenched in his own blood. "Shiro!" She ran to him and pressed his limp body to her chest.

Shiro made a hoarse little sound. Kerenai leaned in ear-to-mouth to hear better.

"Kerenai, I want you…" he held up his mother's pendant. "I want you to have this." Forcing a smile across his face, he tried to hand the intense pink stone to her.

"I can't take this, Shiro." She could feel those damned tears trickle down her face. It was your mother's. I couldn't -"

He cut her off. "Let's be realistic here. I'm probably not going to live through this." Kerenai turned away. Now Shiro was holding her to his chest. "How about this: You hold onto it until I'm better. Then you can give it back to me, okay?"

Kerenai noticed his tone of voice changed dramatically. He was dealing with the pain for her! She couldn't refuse him now. She took his hand holding the pendant.

As Shiro kissed Kerenai, he felt his pain almost ease. He could feel the warmth of her hands against his cheek and in his right palm. His left hand was at the small of her back, pressing her soft skin delicately and passionately. He could think of nothing but her. Red fiery hair, emerald green eyes, and her lips… Her ruby lips were pressed to his own. The sweet scent of her breath entered his mouth and filled him with joy. The joy of kissing the most beautiful girl in the world. As their lips ended their passionate embrace, Shiro looked into Kerenai's eyes, waiting to see her reaction. The look of panic, or was it horror, upon her face was not expected.

"Kerenai, watashi wa…"

The shriek filled the shack and spilled out into the wild forest.

Shiro felt his heart break just as readily as he had felt the pain subside. Wait! The pain was… the pain was gone! He felt almost brand new! However, Kerenai seemed pretty upset.

Before he could ask her what was wrong, she stumbled to her feet, and hobbled halfway across the room before collapsing.

Shiro ran to comfort her. Maybe he had really gone to far this time. As he flipped her onto her back, Shiro realized that her hand was clutching his mother's pendant.

And it was bleeding.