Lookie!  Lookie!  Here's another chapter!!!  Thanks so much to everyone for his or her reviews.  As every author knows, the reviews are what keep us going and writing more for you.  Anyway, hope you enjoyed the last chapter and since I can let you know what I think later.  Let's get on with the show…but of course the typical disclaimer.

Standard Disclaimer:

Jayli: Hey quiet over there!  Anyway, I'm Jayli and I'm here to let you know that I do not own Escaflowne and everything that it entails.  I do however own my characters and ideas.

Hitomi: Will someone please get us out of here?!?!  It's cold and dark in this basement!!!

Jayli: Please excuse that racket. *grumbles* Damn non-sound proof basement!

Van: I don't even remember how we got in here.

Jayli: *slaps her forehead* I gotta take care of some things, if you'll please excuse me. *stomping down the stairs to the basement door* If the twelve of you in there can't behave, then I'm going to have to use the HOSE!!!

Vision of Escaflowne: Homecoming

Chapter Seventeen: The Hunt

~ The Quest ~

            "How far away are we?" Merle paced the length of the main cabin.  She had been patient since they had left Freyd, but now she found that her patience was wearing thin.  Sighing, Merle fiddled with a lock of her bright pink mane, "Tardus?"

            Tardus stopped Merle's pacing and pulled her to his side.  He rubbed her arm in comfort, "We're about a half day away from Iacopina.  Are you sure you don't want to go and get some rest?"

            Merle looked up at Tardus with an eyebrow raised, "Starting to tire of my company?"

            "No, not at all," Tardus hugged Merle too him as he placed a kiss on her forehead, "But you do look as if you're stretched out a bit thin.  Is there something on your mind?"

            "Yes and no," Merle cuddled into Tardus' warmth, "Nothing major.  I guess everything is basically nervousness."

            Pristelle sat quietly at the desk in the room she shared with Ryley.  Ryley was currently napping on the bed on the other side of the room, softly snoring.  Pristelle smiled.  It would be good to see the white magic city where she had been born.  Sighing, Pristelle turned to watch the clouds out of the window in their room.  They were going to Iacopina to retrieve Sila's White Crystal.  Closing her eyes, Pristelle tried to picture the last time she had seen the Crystal.  It was the city's symbol of the truth and purity of their magic.

            Pristelle opened her eyes and turned to Ryley's sleeping form.  Deciding that her husband had the right idea, Pristelle slipped into the bed next to him, smiling as Ryley's arms automatically came up around her.

~ Allen's Ship ~

            Myami stood ever watchful at the controls of the airship.  Being that they were heading in the opposite direction of their friends, they were heading directly into the night.  They were about three quarters of the way away from Theter and the majority of the crew had opted to rest.  Allen's faithful crewmen had split up between the three airships in order to compensate for the other's lack of crew.

            Hitomi had been sitting at the bridge with her, occasionally telepathically communicating comments to her.  If anyone had walked in on the sisters it would seem that they were enjoying complete silence, when in actuality they were chatting quite avidly with each other.

            So? Hitomi crossed her arms as she stared out of the bridge's windows.

            Myami threw a glance at Hitomi, So what, Tom-Tom?

            Hitomi smirked, I know when something is bothering you, 'Nee-chan.  Can't hide it from me.

            And what is it that you think I'm hiding?

            I think you're thinking about Sila's White Crystal, Theus' Sword of Power, the Stone Dragon of Fanel, and the other artifacts.  Not to mention the pendant that you have yet to tell Allen about and the fact that you're IN LOVE. Hitomi wagged her eyebrows at Myami as she said the last part.

            Myami released her hold on the bridge's railing and turned calmly to her sister.  With an expression on her face that obviously made Hitomi uneasy, Myami walked slowly to sit next to her sister.  Once she was seated, Myami turned to face Hitomi.  In her loudest possible telepathic voice, Myami shouted, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THAT, TOM-TOM!!!

            Startled, Hitomi immediately began edging away from her sister's calm façade, causing her to fall off of her chair.  As Hitomi caught the small smile forming on Myami's visage a good amount of anger grew in her mind, "WHAT IN THE HELL WAS THAT FOR!!!!" Hitomi yelled.

            Myami laughed out loud at the indignation written all over Hitomi's face.

            At that moment, Allen and Van walked in on the scene.  Hitomi was waving a fist at her sister, cursing up a storm, while Myami was laughing hysterically, holding her sides.

            Van grinned at Allen and the two men made their way over.  "So what's so funny?" Allen laid a hand on Myami's shoulder.

            Myami looked up at Allen and Van then glanced at Hitomi and continued to laugh even harder.  Van raised an eyebrow at Myami's behavior and turned to Hitomi who was red with anger, "Tomi-chan?"

            "She's…she's…she's…" Hitomi sputtered, "…so IMMATURE, 'Nee-chan!!!  Why can't you just fucking be mature!  You're such a damn bitch!!  All the shit you give me!!"

            Van, surprised at Hitomi's vivid vocabulary, glanced at Myami who just kept laughing and put himself in between the two sisters, effectively blocking Hitomi's view of Myami.  Placing his hands on her shoulders, Van tried to calm his love down, "Tomi-chan, calm down.  I'm sure whatever it is that Myami did is forgivable."

            At this point, Myami had calmed down enough and was wiping the tears from her cheeks, "Tom-Tom," Myami stood and walked to stand next to Hitomi, "I apologize, but you have to admit that you had it coming."

            Remembering what she had said to provoke Myami in the first place, Hitomi blushed then grumbled, "Apology accepted."

            "Do you feel left out?" Van muttered to Allen.

            Allen nodded, "Yep, still wondering what they were laughing about though."

~ Freyd Airship ~

            "How far are we?" Millerna stepped up to stand next to Yil.

            Yil turned to the young queen, "Two days, Millerna-sama.  You did not wish to rest?"

            Millerna shook her head, "Could not rest is more like it.  Selena is sleeping as is my husband yet I couldn't get my mind to quiet down enough to let sleep come.  And you, Yil?  Why aren't you resting?"

            "Sleep always eludes me," Yil smiled a sad smile, "My spirit is too turbulent right now to find any good rest, so I choose to stay vigilant for our safety."

            "Mind if I keep you company?" Millerna sat herself down in front of one of the tactical stations.

            Yil shook his head, "I don't mind.  Would you tell me about Selena?"

            "Of course," Millerna grinned, "What about her hasn't she told you herself?"

~ Island of Indemnity ~

            Dorser walked up to Nigel's napping figure and knocked Nigel's boots off the table.  Effectively waking up his prey, Dorser sat himself on the table, "It's about time you woke up."

            "What do you want?" Nigel pulled his hat over his eyes and repositioned his boots, "Hurry up so I can go back to sleep."

            Dorser, who had been in an unusually good mood lately, smirked at his comrade, "Master Kirok sends word.  It seems that Chelsea and Tamra have recovered another page and decimated Freyd.  They have succeeded, under the express orders not to interfere with Myami and her friends."

            Nigel pulled peeked up at Dorser and sat up straight, "What does this mean for us?"

            "I had a spy watch the battle that occurred at Freyd.  It seems that Master Kirok doesn't know about the fact that Myami and her group were there to counter Chelsea and Tamra.  Freyd was well prepared although they did not win.  The Graveler won for Chelsea and Tamra." Dorser began his explanation, "I happen to think that they did not succeed."

            "Now I'm confused." Nigel raised a brow at Dorser, "If they obviously got the Largaras Staff and took care of the city, regardless of Myami's involvement, they would have the upper hand with Kirok."

            Dorser nodded but still held his grin, "The spy that I had sent over also reported that the city had been evacuated and that Freyd had almost an entire day to prepare for Chelsea and Tamra."

            Nigel digested Dorser's words and understanding dawned upon him, "They did fail.  Hitomi, Myami and that whole group duped them."

            "I know.  I think we should be there at the compound when Chelsea and Tamra arrive.  Master Kirok has already consented to our presence." Dorser stood and strode confidently away from Nigel.

            Nigel grinned to himself and once again situated himself for another nap, "Things aren't so bad after all."

~ Allen's Airship ~

            "What are you doing out here?" Van wrapped his arms around Hitomi's waist and laid his chin comfortingly on her head.

            Hitomi shrugged and leaned into Van, "I'm just thinking about us and this new journey we're on.  Every time we're together we seem to attract adventures."

            Van inhaled Hitomi's fragrance of lilacs, "At least life together will never be boring.  It may be a bit tiring, but I'm sure we can handle that."

            Van's comment earned a chuckle from Hitomi.  Sighing Hitomi turned around in Van's arms and faced him, "There are some things that I want to tell you that I really shouldn't be telling you, but I'm going to anyway because I've been dying to share this with someone."

            "Ok," Van said in a cautious manner, "What do you want to tell me?"

            Hitomi grinned brightly, "I think Myami is in love with Allen."

The next two days went smoothly for everyone.  All three teams retrieved the specified artifacts and were heading to Astoria to regroup and plan their next course of action.  It would be another day before any of their ships would reach Astoria, which made their use of time very efficient. 

~ Kirok's Base ~

            "Welcome back, Tamra and Chelsea." Kirok smiled down at his two loyal followers, "I've read all the initial reports and I am pleased with the results.  Do you have the page?"

            Tamra and Chelsea stood from their kneeling positions.  Chelsea glared at Dorser and Nigel, who she had noticed standing in the room when they had arrived.  Their presence was not a good sign. "Yes, Master Kirok," Chelsea walked up to her leader and reverently handed him the Largaras Staff. 

            Once Chelsea had moved back to stand with Tamra, Kirok began to chant the spell that would release the page of spells from its hiding place.  The staff levitated from Kirok's hands and began to glow.  Out of the corner of her eye, Tamra saw that Dorser and Nigel were both smirking.

            "Something's up," Tamra whispered to her friend.

            Chelsea nodded in response, never taking her eyes off Kirok and the staff.  The chanting stopped and Kirok looked closely at his two female soldiers, "Is there something you two should be telling me?"

            At Kirok's words, Chelsea and Tamra began to feel very dismayed.  Dorser and Nigel grinned even larger.

            When they didn't answer immediately, Kirok growled, "Answer me!"

            Tamra and Chelsea dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.  It was Tamra who informed Kirok, "The Betrayers were present, my lord.  They somehow knew that we were going to be there and had managed to evacuate the city and set up a sizable force to counter us."

            Kirok turned to look at Dorser, "I assume that you knew of this and that is the reason that you both requested to be here today.  I also assume you know why this staff is a fake."

            Tamra lifted her head, "That can not be, Master Kirok.  Chelsea retrieved that with her own hands."

            "Silence!" Kirok yelled with authority, "I was not speaking to you."

            Tamra immediately bowed her head once more, ashamed of her loss of control.  Dorser bowed his head and held his fist to his heart as he answered Kirok, "Yes, my master.  It is true that the Betrayers were there.  All were present including Hitomi and Myami.  They were somehow able to switch the artifacts."

            Kirok fingered his chin thoughtfully, "They were able to duplicate the artifact exactly.  So exact as a matter of fact that the retrieval spell acted as it would have with the original."  Kirok stood and walked over to his window.  Staring over the expanse of the Underground, Kirok formulated a plan, "All four of you have failed me but you are also the best of my forces." Kirok heard his underlings breathe out a sigh of relief, which made his smile crueler as he turned to face them, "This in no way means that you all won't be punished."

            Kirok waved his hand to the back of the room and from the shadows of his throne a cloaked figure stepped out into the open.  Chelsea and Tamra stood as Dorser and Nigel made their way to stand beside them.  The cloaked figure nodded once to Kirok and proceeded to place thin silver collars around each of their throats.

            "What Gustav is placing on your necks is a sort of relay system," Kirok moved to sit back at his throne as he watched with avid interest, "Those collars will allow me to distribute punishment from a distance.  I'll let you discover what kind of punishment it is when you all disobey or fail me again." Kirok smiled with grim amusement at the looks of disbelief on his servant's faces, "For now, it would seem that you would all be partners.  You are all to report down to the guymelef area to retrieve your contingents.  Then you will travel back to the Island of Indemnity and await my instructions from there.

            "I have received information from our spies that Myami and her friends have retrieved the next set of artifacts," Kirok waited for Gustav to leave the room before continuing, "She is saving us the time of actually going to collect them.  We will wait till she has collected all of them before challenging her for them and the pendants.  It does take away from destroying the other cities, but that can be done after we have released the Immortal.

            Kirok rotated the ring on his hand, "You are all dismissed."

~ Astoria – Four days after the Battle at Freyd ~

            The entire group, minus Dryden and Millerna were gathered on the practice field, where Allen's soldiers usually ran their rounds.  Quatheir was busy going over the Ispanian guymelefs, making sure that they would all be ready in case they were needed. 

            Dryden had gone back to library with many books from the Ispanian peoples that lived at the Haven.  They contained a great deal of information about the guymelefs that they had designed and created.  He had also gone home with a better knowledge about the Haven, Myami's forest dwelling in the Arkanium Wood.  The little city was full of all types of people, living in contentment and harmony.  It astounded him and intrigued him.  Dryden had expressed interest in visiting the Haven again and had told Myami of his thoughts.

            Millerna had also gone up to the library with volumes of notes from Pristelle's personal journals.  They contained all the information Pristelle had encountered and took the time to record about the healing techniques that she found most useful in almost any types of situations.  Millerna had also extended the desire to visit the Haven again.

            Now, awaiting the next step of their plans, Myami and the others were busy releasing tension through some training.  Tardus was currently running everyone through some basic combat maneuvers, while Myami stood silently on the sidelines.  Hitomi glanced over to where her sister was standing.  Myami had been extremely quiet since they had retrieved the artifacts.  She knew that, through conversations with Dryden, they had discovered there were only three more artifacts. 

            Kirok had gotten his hands on Astoria's Scepter and Yarfan's Statue of Lanos.  As a group they had successfully collected Freyd's Staff of Largaras, Iacopina's White Crystal, Theus' Sword of Power and the Stone Dragon of Fanel.  Along with the three that they had yet to retrieve that made the grand total nine pages. 

            From her vantage point, Myami took note of the improved skills that her friends were showing under her tutelage.  She especially took note of Hitomi's progress.  Myami glanced up at the darkening sky.  It would be another two and a half weeks before the planetary alignment.  From Dryden's findings, this would be the time that Kirok would need to release the Immortal. 

            Kirok needed to have the rest of the pages and the four pendants all gathered otherwise he would not be able to control the Immortal and it's infinite powers.  Myami sighed.  Although Dryden's perusal of the ancient tomes revealed that there were only nine pages missing, Myami and Hitomi both felt that there was ten pages unaccounted for.  They had kept that piece of information to themselves, not wanting to worry anyone else. 

            If what Myami and Hitomi suspected was true, that would mean that there was still one page missing and that one page would be the key to it all. 

            "'Nee-chan?" Hitomi, who had been watching Myami the entire time Tardus had been running them through the kata, moved to stand in front of Myami, "I know we leave in the morning.  Do you think we'll have enough time?"

            Myami directed her gaze from the horizon to Hitomi's face, "Hopefully, we will have the time.  That's why we're splitting up again.  We'll be going to Ispano and Tardus will be going to Xanthos, then we'll all meet over in Zais," Myami rubbed the bridge of her nose in thought, "By now, Kirok has discovered that we are gathering the ancient objects.  He must have also set up all of his forces to meet us once we have collected the last of the artifacts.  That way he can claim them, the pages, and our pendants."

            "Why can we not just wait till the planets align? Surely us lagging on time will be enough to save the two worlds.  Or we can hide the artifacts away from Kirok.  That way he won't have the necessary materials in time to awake the Immortal," Hitomi peered into Myami's eyes and saw the indecision in their depths, "It's more than that, isn't it.  There's something else."

            Myami found her sister's gaze too penetrating to lie to, "What if we do hide those artifacts?  Kirok will just destroy the cities till we give them to him.  Even now, just holding on to these objects are dangerous, even more so if we decide to interrupt Kirok's timeline." Myami squeezed Hitomi's shoulder, "I too, have thought of all those possibilities.  Getting rid of the artifacts, destroying the pages, anything and almost everything.  It would be in our best interests to gather the items and face Kirok head on."

            "Dryden agrees with you?" Hitomi knew to ask, since Dryden was a master strategist.

            Myami nodded, "As does Van, Allen and the others.  If we sit and wait now, Kirok will just continue the destruction with or without the Immortals aid.  If he fails to awaken the Immortal, what do you think he will do?  He will take out his anger on the rest of Gaea, not sparing a soul."

            Hitomi shivered with the image that crossed her mind, "Then we will not fail, will we?"

            "No, we will not fail.  That is definitely not an option."

~ Island of Indemnity – Four days after the Battle of Freyd ~

            "Get the hell out of my way!" Tamra yelled with frustration directly into Nigel's face.

            Nigel smirked, "We may be in the same situation with these collars, so I suggest you step out of MY way."

            Tamra couldn't believe Nigel's audacity.  Both of their teams failed in carrying out Master Kirok's requests and thus had to wear the collars that his scientists had designed.  They had yet to find out what the collars did, but Tamra knew that no one really wanted to know.  Shoving her shoulder into Nigel's shoulder, Tamra stomped pass the man. 

            Once Tamra was out of sight, Dorser walked up to a smiling Nigel, "That was very mature of you."

            "It doesn't matter," Nigel turned and began to walk with Dorser down to the caves, "What matters now is that Master Kirok is planning on one big destructive force going up against Hitomi and Myami."

            "He is surely not underestimating them at all.  Master Kirok knows that they are about to collect the last of the artifacts and although he is willing to wait till they're all in Myami's hands, he is not willing to wait too long.  We have two and half weeks left," Dorser began to plan, "The Master has already ordered us to mobilize in four days.  Whether or not Hitomi and Myami have the artifacts will not be an issue.  If they do, easier for us.  If they don't we continue on with the plans for the other cities destruction and then we move to gather what they have not."

            "We're really squeezing the time limit," Nigel halted at one of the tents set up around the caves.

            Dorser nodded in agreement, "Our magic practitioners will still need to translate the spells, then we have to resonate the four pendants.  That's another problem.  Master Kirok knows of only of the whereabouts of two pendants.  He doesn't know where the other two are."

            Outside the tent, Tamra walked away after eavesdropping on the two men.  After she had walked away she had watched as Dorser had made himself known to Nigel then she followed them as they had chatted.  She knew that after Master Kirok had dismissed them, he had summoned Dorser to him before they had left for the island. 

            Now she knew what Dorser had been told in that private meeting.  Quickly, Tamra made her way to find Chelsea.  Her partner needed to know what was going on.

~ Next Morning – Astoria ~

            Van, Hitomi and Myami were supervising the loading of the two airships that were to depart later that morning.  They had all been up since dawn and were just now feeling the effects of being up so early.

            Hitomi yawned loudly, stretching her arms over her head, "Just how much longer are we gonna be out here?"

            Myami grinned at her sister's discomfort, "I told you that you didn't have to wake up."

            "She's right Tomi-chan," Van pulled Hitomi to his side and massaged her neck, "Myami did warn you that she and I would be busy."

            "I didn't want to be left out," Hitomi made a face at her fiancé, "Besides, I've been helpful."

            "How's it going with you guys?" Allen called out from the dock entrance, "Are we almost ready?"

            Van looked up from Hitomi's face, "Hai, Allen-san!"

            At Van's assurance, Allen came down from the dock entrance to stand with the trio, "Well the other ship is ready and we're just loading the last of the supplies for our ship."

            "Then I'll send Tardus off," Myami turned around and hurriedly made her way to where Tardus was standing.

            "She's been doing that a lot lately," Allen mumbled as he watched Myami walk away.

            Hitomi looked up at Allen, "Doing what a lot lately?"

            Allen scratched the back of his head, "Avoiding me or avoiding spending any time near me or around me."

            "Tomi-chan has brought it to my attention that something may be going on between you and her sister," Van told Allen, which promptly earned him an elbow into his stomach.

            "Van!" Hitomi scolded, "I told you what I thought in confidence."

            "Allen happens to be part of what you told me," Van rubbed the area Hitomi had struck before wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "I think he has a right to know a bit about it, especially if Onee-chan is causing him some worry."

            Hitomi smiled at Van calling Myami his older sister.  Van caught on to the smile and then winked at Allen, "Besides, Allen-san, I need to know if your intentions toward Onee-chan are honorable or not."

            Allen blushed and mumbled something about finding out where Myami went, before quickly navigating his way away from Van and Hitomi.

            "See what you did?" Hitomi admonished Van for his behavior, "Now Allen thinks that we're prying into his and Onee-chan's business."

            Van kissed Hitomi quickly and sighed, "I happen to think that we both have a right to pry.  Besides, you know what a playboy Allen is reported to be.  Things didn't change when you left Gaea and for Onee-chan's sake I think a little prying is in order."

            "I don't know Van," Hitomi hesitated before shrugging her shoulders, "Onee-chan is more than meets the eye and even I don't know everything about her.  I'm pretty sure neither does Tardus.  Maybe we should be worrying more about Allen than Onee-chan."

~ The Quest - Half a day away from Ispano ~

            Hitomi sat quietly in the practice room watching her sibling work through a complex routine.  She had been afraid to voice her presence so as to not disturb her sister's concentration.  Myami had been hard at practice since they had settled into a comfortable speed of travel.  She had quickly excused herself from the bridge avoiding all unnecessary conversation with everyone, including herself.  Hitomi frowned.  This wasn't like Myami.  Something was really bothering her and that was why Hitomi was there: to get to the bottom of Myami's aggravation.

            Myami, totally aware of Hitomi's presence, became determined to ignore her.  Foreboding feelings had filled her mind as they had set out to retrieve the last of the artifacts and no matter what she did, she could not settle herself enough to find a center of calm.  Tardus had sensed it in her and had mentioned that she should try to meditate, and she had tried, but to no avail.  Frustrated with herself, Myami began pushing herself more and more into her routine.

            "How long have you been here?" Van settled himself next to Hitomi as he whispered his question.

            Hitomi automatically leaned into Van and felt him place an arm around her shoulders, "Not too long after she stepped in here.  So I'd say about two hours." Hitomi took her eyes off of her sister to look to Van, "Where's Allen?"

            Van turned to Hitomi, "Directing our progress on the bridge.  He's the one who sent me here to check up on the both of you."

            "It's all so strange," Hitomi turned her gaze back to her sister, "Here we all are hunting down the artifacts.  Kirok is busy hunting us down or at least laying in wait till the perfect moment to pounce on us.  We have two and half weeks till the planets align, when all our fates will be decided on the outcome of this race." Hitomi sighed heavily, "I can feel the darkness that is swimming around in all of our minds.  More so in Onee-chan's mind than anyone else's.  I think the prospect of facing Dorser and Kirok again is getting to her."

            "Let's leave her be, Tomi-chan," Van stated as he began to help her stand, "Onee-chan will work things out.  We'll check on her later, okay?"
            Hitomi hesitated but eventually nodded, "All right."

            Van led Hitomi out of the room and as he closed the door Myami's voice flittered into his mind.  :Thank you.:

            :You're welcome, 'Nee-chan.: Van communicated back as he escorted Hitomi back to the bridge.

~ Bridge – The Quest ~

            "How are you doing, Allen-san?" Hitomi walked up to stand next to Allen at the helm of the ship.

            "I'm all right, Hitomi," Allen grinned down at his friend, "The Quest's controls are very efficient.  Almost makes me wish that this was my ship."

            Van chuckled, "Makes me wonder what Tardus thinks of your ship, Allen-san."

            Allen shook his head in mirth then turned to Van, "How's Myami?"

            "She's doing okay.  Just practicing up a storm in that little dojo room." Van scratched the back of his neck before sitting down, "I decided that taking Tomi-chan out of there to leave her alone would be a good idea."

            Hitomi made a face at Van, "I told you that I'm attuned to what she's feeling and I would have rather stayed with her.  But I do understand that maybe just me being there wasn't helping."

            "Let's hope that she settles things before we meet in Zais." Allen commented as he turned back to the helm.

~ Allen's ship ~

            Tardus, Merle, Yil, Selena, Ryley and Pristelle sat eating in the common room of the ship.  Conversation was light among the six people, but it could be seen that each person had their own set of worries to do with their mission.  Xanthos was a closer destination than Ispano from Astoria, but it was also farther from Zais than Ispano was, so they would be meeting up with Hitomi and the others within hours of each other as long as things went according to plan. 

            When they would finally reach Zais and would collect the last of the artifacts, their group would be in possession of seven of the nine needed to call the Immortal.  Hopefully, barring any complications they would meet each other within the next three days.  Then they would travel together back to Astoria to regroup and figure out the next move.

            Ryley sighed loudly, catching the attention of the group, "Are you just as worried as I am about this?  I mean, once we meet again in Astoria that would mean that we only have thirteen days before the planetary alignment.  We'll have seven artifacts plus three pendants, one of which Kirok has yet to discover that we have.  We still don't know where the fourth pendant is plus we'll be sitting ducks if we don't move quickly."

            "I know what you mean," Merle dragged a hand through her long mane, "I told Myami before we left that it felt like we were doing all the work, which we are, and then we're waiting to get hunted down, which will end up happening."

            Selena's eyes took on a hard edge, "You're thinking that we're more like the hunted than the hunters."

            "I agree with that thought.  I know that this is the plan that we all agreed upon, not to mention that if we are able to withstand Kirok and be victorious, we'll be saving all the other cities the destruction that Astoria and Freyd had to deal with.  But it still seems as if we're just making things easier for Kirok." Pristelle voiced out.

            Yil turned to look to Tardus and Tardus nodded.  The exchange didn't go unnoticed by the others and Merle inquired for them, "What's going on?"

            "Myami and Hitomi know where the last pendant is as well," Yil stated, "And as for being the hunted, we may be that, but what other way could you think of to save the other cities."

            Tardus turned to the group, "I trust in Myami.  I know you all do as well.  I also trust in Dryden's judgment in this matter.  We won't sit too long with the items we have gathered.  Once in Astoria we will restock supplies and leave again for the most uninhabited place of all of Gaea, the Lands of Silence."

            "That is where we will face off with Kirok and his men.  Away from civilizations and away from the Immortal's resting place, the Island of Indemnity." Yil continued, "The outcome of that battle will decide all of our fates."

            Selena grinned brightly, in an effort to cheer up her friends, "If I know one thing, it's this: Hitomi-chan and Myami-chan won't let us lose."

            Selena's comment brought a small sense of relief to the other five people in the room.  A determination and hope filled the lingering doubt that each person had and they each said a silent prayer for victory.

~ Two hours away from Ispano – The Quest ~

            Myami stood at the helm of the ship alone, the majority of the ship having fallen asleep hours ago.  Glancing at the clock, Myami sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

            "Two in the morning," Hitomi's voice came from behind Myami, "Why aren't you in bed?"

            Myami turned and crossed her arms across her chest, "Insomniac, remember?  Why aren't you in bed?"

            Hitomi yawned and sat down, "I was sleeping but then I started feeling uncomfortable in the room, plus I started thinking about Okaa-san."

            "I wish I was around to see her before she died," Myami moved to sit with her sibling, a soft look entering her emerald eyes, "I missed out on so much with the both of you."

            "Don't feel bad, Onee-chan.  We both had memory blocks.  We'll be able to make up for lost time when this is all over."

            "Can't you feel it Tom-Tom?" Myami decided to let her sister in on some of her thoughts, "The Mystic Moon and Gaea feel strange, almost as if both planets are preparing for something wrong to happen."

            Hitomi closed her eyes and concentrated.  Feelings of despair and uncertainty radiated from the planets.  It was similar to the darkness surrounding the entire group that she had told Van about earlier.  Opening her eyes, Hitomi breathed in deeply, "I didn't even think that that could happen.  I guess I was concentrating so much on our group that I didn't even realize anything else going on.  Is this what's bothering you?"

            Myami nodded, careful not to let on that other things were on her mind as well.  She didn't want to worry Hitomi so she responded, "We're only two hours away from Ispano.  If you're awake enough, why don't you keep me company?"

            "Sure," Hitomi smiled at her sister.

            Both siblings sat quietly, awaiting the rising of the sun.

~ Outside the bridge's doors – The Quest ~

            "At least we don't have to worry too much," Allen laid a hand on Van's shoulder as he began to lead them away from the bridge's doors and towards the guymelef bay, "They'll look after each other."

            Van nodded, "I know.  So where are we headed off to?"

            "How about some maintenance work with our guymelefs?  It'll certainly work out some of our excess energy."

            "Allen-san?" Van asked after a while without conversation.  The duo had made it to the guymelef bay 30 minutes before and had enjoyed companionable silence until now, "I know that this subject made you uncomfortable earlier, but I'd really like to know if you have feelings for Onee-chan."

            Allen dropped a tool he had been using into the box on his right and then turned to face his friend, "I can't really say, Van.  Everything is so confusing between the two of us that I don't think it would be right to say anything that I'm not sure about yet." Allen sat down against his guymelef and sighed, "I will say this though: what I feel when I'm with her is a sense of rightness that I never felt with Hitomi."

            Van nodded to his companion and leaned against Escaflowne, "I can accept that for now," Van looked up at Escaflowne's face, "Can I ask you something else?"

            "Of course," Allen responded with an easy smile.

            "Do you think we'll succeed?" Van turned his mahogany eyes to Allen's blue orbs.

            Allen's face took on a hard edge, "We have to."

End Chapter Seventeen

Author's Afterthoughts:

I KNOW, I KNOW!!! I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER!!!….  I really have no other good reason besides a really bad case of writer's block.  So I'm not making any promises for the next chapter, but I do so hope that you have enjoyed this one.  Please let me know what you think in REVIEWS…whether it is bad or good, or just to snap at me for making you all wait for so long.  I do thank all of you for your patience and I hope to be back soon with another installment of my story.

Jayli