Alright guys.  Fixed up a few things so it should be a little clearer,
and decided yes, I will make this go on for a few more chapters.
Alright, enough of me!  Ja ne!

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Based on the Anime: The Vision of Escaflowne

We're proud to present......

Hitomi's Wish, Part 1
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"Alright, Hitomi-chan!  Blow the candles out!"

Hitomi looked up at her mother.  Although a bit more wrinkled and
growing grey, her mother was a vibrant as ever.

"Hai, Okaa-san."  She said while drawing a breath in.  She though again
of Gaia.  Her poor mother.  She must have been so lonely.

"Wait, Hitomi.  What are you gonna wish for?"

Hitomi looked up to her Best friend Yukari and Yukari's fiancee,
Amano-san.  Back before Gaia, Hitomi had had a crush on Amano, but she
had long since given up on him.  Her best friend was so happy with him,
and they looked so good together.  Besides, she didn't love him.  She
loved....loved....

"Well?"  Yukari spoke up, waking Hitomi from her daydream.

Hitomi blushed slightly, "Gomen, Yukari.  What was that?"

"Well," Amano started, "It's a tradition in North America that when you
blow out candles on a birthday cake, you should make a wish."

"Oh," Hitomi started, "Alright then!"  She drew in a another breath and
blew out the candles.

Cheers were heard from around the room.  Hitomi was embarrassed at all
the attention, but it wasn't like she wasn't used to it.  On Gaia, she
drew lots of attention from just about everyone, even royalty.  But that
was so long ago.

"So, what did you wish for?"  Yukari asked.

Hitomi was just about to open her mouth when Amano stopped her, "Now,
Yukari-chan.  Hitomi shouldn't tell anyone.  That way, her wish is sure
to come true."

"Oh," Hitomi said while shutting her mouth once more,  *Please let it
come true*

Yukari grinned, "I suppose.  Well, we should get going.  We still have a
lot of planning to do before the wedding," She said while interlocking
her hands with her fiancee.

Hitomi felt her stomach tie into knots.  The wedding.  It wasn't far
off, and she was dreading it somewhat.  Of course she didn't mind the
two getting married, in fact, she was as happy for them as anyone.  But,
just the thought of a wedding made her tear up.  It just wasn't fair.
But, her best friend would be happy, and Hitomi wanted her to be happy
more than anything.

Yukari nodded, "Bright and early."

The couple left, and soon most of the other guests had dispersed.  Only
Hitomi and her mother were left now for clean up duty.  Hitomi was
unusually silent while doing her job and her mother took notice,
"Hitomi-chan, what's the matter?"

Hitomi blinked a few times, "Hn?  Oh, gomen Okaa-san.  I was just
thinking about something."

Her mother knew better than to pry so she gave her daughter a kiss on
the forehead, "Maybe you should get some rest.  I'll finish the clean-up
and make sure you get to Yukari-chan's on time tomorrow, okay?"

Hitomi smiled, "Arigatou."

Her mother smiled, "It's my pleasure.  Now go on,  I'll finish up.  Oh,
and happy 23rd birthday."

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Moonlight poured in through a window into Hitomi's room house.  She sat
at her desk, staring aimlessly through her window.  She held her pendant
in the air and swung it back a forth, "Ichi..... Ni.....San....," She
frowned when it swung out of time with her count.  No, it wasn't the
same.  It didn't keep the time like the other.  Her Dragu Energist
necklace was left back in Gaia, with Van.  Her mom had given this one to
her for her birthday.  She knew her mother meant well.  It was the same
shade of pink....the same chain..but it just wasn't the same.

This was a day she was looking forward to for a long time now.  Her 23rd
birthday.  She was definitely an adult now and had finished college just
less than a month ago.  Yukari had always tried to get her to go out
with some guys, and even went as far as setting her up with a few of
Amano-san's friends.  But Hitomi had declined over and over again.  How
could have Yukari known what she went through?  How much she missed
him....

Her mother had re-married just under a year before.  When Hitomi's
father died, her mother had grown so sad.  it was good to see her smile
so often now.  Soon it would her mother and new step-father's
anniversary.  She smiled, as she knew her mother wouldn't be sad.
Yukari had Amano-san, and she was happy for them.  They wouldn't be sad
either.

Hitomi shook nervously as she gathered up her bag of clothes and
silently slipped a note onto her mothers night stand.  She rushed out of
the house, bag in hand, and ran down the street.  Her sprinting ability
from high school helped her glide down the side walks with ease.  The
wind whipped coldly through her now shoulder length hair and filled he
with uneasiness.

The knot in her stomach tightened as she reached her destination.  The
old high school's track.  She had so many memories, but wouldn't allow
herself to stop and think of them at the moment.

She grinned as she set one foot into the starter block of the track.
*On Your Mark..*
She rose, *Get Set*
"GO!"  She yelled out as she sped down the track.  She had long since
broken her record of 13 seconds, but having a bag in her hand did slow
her down considerably.

She closed her eyes for a moment, *If our feelings are connected,* She
thought, "Please...." She whispered under her breath.

Hitomi gasped as a hot, pink light illuminated through her body, feeling
almost as if she was in an inferno.  Her running slowed as she was
finally engulfed.  Her feet rose slowly from the ground and she grinned
widely, "We'll always be together, if our feelings are connected....
Van."

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