Hitomi sat on the windowsill, leaning heavily against it. She stared out at the passing clouds, dark gray with the coming snow. Her golden honey hair fell into her emerald eyes. "Oh my god!" came from the door, startling Hitomi. She turned quickly to the door.

"You grew your hair out!!" Yukari stood staring at Hitomi through wide eyes.

"Yukari!" Hitomi leaped off the windowsill and ran to hug her long lost friend. "When did you get here?" She cried.

"Just a couple of hours ago." Yukari gripped her friend tightly. "It would've been sooner if it weren't for all this stupid snow."

"I thought you weren't coming back." Hitomi wiped tears from her eyes.

"I can't just leave you here alone at college!" Yukari touched Hitomi's now long hair. "You grew this fast." She said.

"You've been gone for awhile." Hitomi said. "How's Amano doing?"

Yukari shrugged a little. "School mostly. He needed a little break so we flew over."

"How'd you get here?" Hitomi asked.

"We flew." Hitomi shook her head. "Oh we took the bus." Yukari stated.

"Where were you going to next?" She asked.

"We haven't got any plans." Yukari shook her head.

"I'll drive you to my apartment then. It's not too far." Hitomi pointed, "Just a little south of here."

"Cool, that sounds good." Yukari peered over Hitomi's shoulder. "Looks like Amano's already found the track." She giggled.

"Lets go down, I want to race him." Hitomi laughed and dragged Yukari down the hall and out the doors to the track. "Amano!" She yelled, waving.

"Hitomi!" Amano jogged up to her and hugged her. "Long time no see."

"Too long." Hitomi replied. She hopped up and down. "Want to race me? Make sure you haven't lost your touch too badly." They laughed and jogged to the track. Yukari stood on the bleachers.

"Ready! Set! Go!" she shouted. The two took off from their positions. Hitomi lost herself in her running, letting her legs take her. Soon Amano was falling behind. They finished with Hitomi in the lead. They laughed a little, out of breath.

"I've really missed that." Amano said, breathing heavily, "but apparently you haven't." Hitomi laughed.

"I can't, it's where my scholarship came from." She explained. Yukari ran up to her.

"Oh my god, you beat him!" she hugged Hitomi. "So are we going now?" she asked, pulling away.

"Sure, my car's parked on the other side, we should cut through the school." They laughed and joked, catching up from the many years apart from each other, as they walked through the school to Hitomi's car. Amano slid in the back while Yukari sat up front with Hitomi, right in front of Amano. They chatted more suddenly Yukari smacked her forehead.

"Oh I almost forgot! Guess what Hitomi!" Yukari was extremely excited.

"What?" Hitomi replied.

"We're engaged!" Yukari showed her left hand, Hitomi felt a pang of jealousy but smiled.

"That's great!" She said, glancing at the ring. Hitomi stopped at the light. "So finally made the move Amano." He laughed. Suddenly Yukari screamed next to Hitomi.

"Hitomi look out!" Hitomi turned to find a truck coming at them on her side. Unable to react fast enough the truck rammed into them. Amano grabbed Yukari, trying to protect her. The car spun and hit the rails, flipping over them and onto the sidewalk. It rocked a few times then stopped. Yukari opened her eyes slowly, unsure. Amano was at her side, pinned between the seats. She gasped and touched his face.

"Amano?" she brushed his hair from his face. "Amano answer me!" Amano moaned.

"Yukari?" his eyes opened. "Are you alright? How's Hitomi?" Yukari looked over Amano to find Hitomi. Her eyes widened and she paled. "What wrong?" Amano asked, concerned.

"Oh my god, Hitomi!" she shouted. "Hitomi wake up!" Hitomi didn't stir. Sirens screamed from far away. "Amano she's not moving!" Amano's heart stopped.

"Calm down Yukari!" he tried to get out of between the seats but was still unable. "The medics are coming, just keep calm." She hugged him awkwardly.

"You protected me didn't you?" Yukari's tears fell onto Amano's face. The sirens screamed next to them as the medics and police arrived.

"Is everyone alright?" an officer shouted into the car.

"No, our friend isn't moving." Amano answered.

"All right, we're gonna get you guys out of here." the officer said.

Van sat at his desk, paperwork in front of him. He sighed as he stared at the document in front of him. His mind didn't want to pay attention to the written words and preferred to wander. It didn't take long for it him to think of Hitomi. I wonder how she's doing, he thought to himself. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain, as if getting stabbed. He shot out of his chair, pulling out his sword, but no one was there. His head exploded in pain and he fell to his knees. The pendant around his neck was hot and burning his skin. He felt the oxygen disappear in his lungs and he blacked out.

Van woke on his cold stone floor, his head pounding and breathing heavily. The pendant was still hot to the touch but his body felt cold. He lied there, confused for a minute. He didn't know what happened. He touched the burning pendant. "What happened? What happened to Hitomi?" A vision of darkness filled his eyes and his heart froze with fear. Hitomi, oh no!

A/N: This is my first story that doesn't have my own character in it. So I've never written like this, it's brand new territory. Tell me if you like it or not please! Press the pretty blue review button! (Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful work of Escaflowne.)