Destiny's Pawns

[Hitomi Lei]

Chapter One


I don't own Esca...wish I did...




"Hitomi ,you have NO life." exclaimed
Yukari. Hitomi looked up from the book she was studying. She hadn't heard Yukari come into her apartment.
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking before you enter someone?s apartment?" Hitomi asked slightly anger as she took off her glass. This was her last year of college. In four years she had completed an eight year degree and was about to receive her Doctorate in Diplomacy and mid-evil history.
Sometime in the past four years her eye sight has gotten bad. Now she had to where glasses to read.
"Hitomi, come on. Come shopping with me!! It'll be fun!!" Yukari bounced around the room in a blur of hyper-active movement. Hitomi sighed, just the thought of shopping with Yukari made her feel tired. Then she though of her empty fridge and pantry ,which she hadn't thought to restock on her last trip out....Well there where worst things in life than shopping with Yucari .Like starving to death.
"Okay, Yukari, I'll come...But you have to feed me." Hitomi warned her over excited friend. Yukari squealed and barely gave Hitomi time to get some money before she pulled her out side.


Over lunch they talked of many things. Yukari and Amano had recently started dating again after not seeing each other for awhile. Yukari would soon become a second grade teacher. All was right in her world. Hitomi, all though she would say she was fine to Yukari and any one else that asked, had an empty spot where all her friends from Gaea had been. She was lonly for Van. The last time she had seen him had been two years ago*. For some reason he had never come back to earth. Although he kept in touch through their minds, Hitomi was beginning to worry. She promised herself that as soon as college was over she would find away to get back to Gaea.
"Hitomi, your a million miles away. If you didn't won't to come you didn't have to. I would have understood." came Yukari's voice to Hitomi.
"Nani?, Yucari ,Gomen!!! I didn't mean to drift off."
"What where you thinking about, Hitomi?" Yacari asked with a curious expression on her face.
"Oh, you know....Just things..."
"Your thinking about him...aren't you Hitomi?" Yukari?s face had changed to one of gentle probing. Hitomi looked around at the other patrons of the little street cafe. She knew that she would accomplish nothing by feeling sorry for her self.
"Yes, Yukari, I was...but....Don't worry, I'll be okay."
Yukari?s eyes turned sad, "You'll be leaving soon won't you?"
Hitomi couldn't meet her eyes until Yukari took her hand.
"Hitomi...Follow your heart"

End of Chapter one
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*.I have another fic called Never Doubt in which Van comes to earth to send time with Hitomi. It's not as corny as It sounds.

[bookworm]

I just love it when Yukari is so understanding. Definitely a true best friend. What happens next?

[Hitomi Lei]

Chapter two


"Hitomi!!! LOOK!! It's the NEW Gundam Posters!! I'll always Love Gundam Wing the best, but the designs in this one..."

As Yukari droned on and on about Anime as a whole, Hitomi drifted outside of the shop. She liked anime, it was just that she hadn't had much time for it in the last four years. Pules where she was going there wasn't even TV yet.

The smell of incense caught her as she walked by a set of stairs leading to an underground junk shop. Something Hitomi understood well called to her to enter the darkened stairway. Slowly without much thought she entered the doorway. A tiny bell chimed, marking her entrance. The air was hazy with the sweet smelling smoke, and a large golden dragon sat by the door, watching her with ruby eyes.

Hitomi noticed an old China man seated behind the counter, his long white hair hung over his shoulder in a braid and his aged, wise eyes peeked over a long white mustache. As Hitomi's eyes scanned the small shadowed room, she noticed many ancient and odd curiosities.

But her attention was drawn to a large teak wood jewelry stand, with ivory and mother of pearl inlay. Its intricate design was one of dragons and mermaids. It was breath taking. Her fingers slid over some of the jewelry in wonder, for some reason she felt drawn to these things, almost like...

"What the--"

A soft red gem had stared to grow from some where in the mist of the tangle of jewelry. Searching hurriedly she uncovered a pendent with a strange red stone set in a golden holder.

"Oh my...It's just like my pendent!" her voice faded away as she looked into the glowing stone entranced.

"Hitomi, that looks just like your old pendent!" Yukari's voice broke the spell the pendent had woven over Hitomi. Its gleam slowly went out as Hitomi clutched it to her chest.

"Yes is does. Come on I've got to buy it."

Once at the counter the ancient China man slowly bagged up Hitomi's purchase.

"Where did you find this pendent,sir? "Hitomi asked

"A young man came by the other day and sold it to me. He claimed it was from the lost island Atlantis." the old man then laughed at the thought saying, "Maybe it will be a good luck charm for you."

Hitomi thanked him as she and Yukari left the shop.

From the shadows the old mans lips moved, almost in a smile, as an all knowing gleam came into his eyes.


____________________________________________

Author's note: When I was describing the little shop I kept thinking about that on Gremlins 1. I thought it would be perfect. Oh, and just so you know...Van didn?t sell the pendent?who did?well?that?s the mystery of it?
Well, Ja Ne Minna-san.
Hitomi Lei

[Hitomi Lei]

Chapter 3






"Kanzaki Hitomi," as her name was called over the loud

speaker Hitomi felt butterflies flutter inside her stomach.

She walked forward slowly trying not to stumble as she as

approached the President of the college. He handed her the

diploma, its leather bound casing soothing her nerves. Yes

some had said it was impossible, and yes, it had been hard,

but she was here. As she walked over to join her fellow

classmates in the longest wait for the rest of their lives,

Hitomi clutched her pendent tightly in her hand.

"Soon Van...."


~~~~~<@ @>~~~~~



"I'm going soon, Van" said Merle

"No, I don't think that?s a good--'

"Van, did I ask you what you thought about me going to

visit my people." Merle raised an eyebrow and stared at

Van.

"Hmmmmm? I can't hear you, Van." Van spoke up.

"No you didn't but-"

"I leave in an hour then." Merle smirked as she walked

toward her room, she loved bossing Van around. IT brought

him of his Kingly High Horse.

In the seven years since we last saw Merle she has grown

into quite a lovely young women. She wore her hair long and

in multiple braids. merle was now one Van?s most trusted

advisors. Van understood the reason she must go, even if he

didn't let on. She noticed that the Mystic Moon was glowing

brighter than she'd ever seen it glow. Well at least not

since that time seven years ago....



~~~~~<@ @>~~~~~



Van set on his thrown just gazing out the window, the room

was empty save for him and one other.

"So, what your saying is, you want me to teach you to

handle a sword, because you don't like your master?" Van's

voice was void of emotion as he asked his guest this

question.

"Yes, my Lord. I feel that they're not teaching me all I

need to know." The speaker was a tall, thin young man with

shoulder length wild blonde hair, and a blue star tattooed

right beside his right ear. You had to look hard to find

it, but not so for those that knew where to look. Van sighed

"We shall see." was his simple statement.

"What's that suppose to mean--"

The boys words where cut off at the sound of Van's sword

clearing its sheath. The boy quickly readied his warriors

stance, knowing all his dreams rested in this one match.

Van stood calm as the boy circled him, waiting for his

opponent to make a move. The boy got impatient and charged,

Van quickly parried, and thus the battle began. The young

one was strong, but impulsive, while every move the older

made was well thought out and percise. Soon the young

opponent began to get despite, with his reaming strength he

rushed Van, nicking his arm as he passed by. With a rapid

move, Van tripped him and sent him spraling. Breathing hard

the youth just set there, not looking up. In his line of

vision a gloved hand appeared, he looked up, Van met his

eyes and smiled.

"Well, Chid, when do you want to began?"






A.N I just love Chid! I hope you like him too, because he is a major player in this fic!! I hope you are all enjoying this fic, it is long?but it gets better as it goes?much better.

Hitomi Lei

[blackrose]

Oooh, sword fighting is good. ^__^

**whines** But when is Hitomi going to get her scrawny butt onto Gaea?

**runs off to find the next chapter**

Love,
Rose