As long as I live...

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne! I just borrowed the characters for this story!!

Hey there! Some of you guys probably know me from my other fic Silent Secrets! It's not finished yet and I'll probably write more on it until it's finished, then on this one. But I just had to get this idea out and start it, before I can get finished with the other... I still hope you'll enjoy it. It's AU again and it's all about the gang being on one school and Hitomi and Yukari moving there, yadda, yadda, yadda and so on. I just love those, so I also had to write one. ENJOY!!!!

Chapter 1: Meetings

"Come on Hitomi! Get your but out of that bathroom! We're gonna be late on our first day and only because of you!!!"

"Coming Yukari! Coming!"

Frantic cries were heard out of the bathroom, before the door burst open and a 17-year-old girl with bright emerald green eyes and long, flowing, sandybrown hair going to her knees came out. She practically flew down the set of stairs, grabbing her coat and bag from the table while doing so and was in less than 10 seconds out of the front door.

Outside waiting, padding her foot on the ground was a girl of the same age with red hair to her shoulders and red-brown eyes. She didn't look very pleased: "Man, Hitomi, why do you always have to stay so long under the shower?? Are you trying to drown yourself in there?!?"

"No, but it just feels good to have the hot water run down your body. Come on sis, we're gonna be late!"

"Hey, that was my line!! WAIT UP!" Yukari started to run after her sister, who was already miles ahead...

Hitomi wasn't really Yukari's sister. Yukari Uchidna's parent had adopted Hitomi Kanzaki a long time ago, when they had both been six years old. Hitomi's parent had died, when an earthquake had brought down their house. It had been a miracle that Hitomi had survived with only a few scratches and a cut on her left hand, which was now an x-shaped scar. Because Hitomi didn't have any living relatives, Yukari's parent had adopted her. She and Yukari had known each other since they had been three. She was proud to have a sister and best friend like Hitomi. Hitomi was always there to help her and comforted her. She always seemed to be happy and full of energy. She cheered everyone all around her up with her laughter. She also stood out with her long hair. Hitomi had not cut her hair since she had been 12. Since she had been told by the doctors, that...

Yukari shook that thought away, before she could finish it. Hitomi was here and that was all, that counted!!

Yukari finally managed to catch up with Hitomi and brought her to a stop. They were both panting heavy, but Hitomi much more that you usually expected from a fit looking girl. She began to cough and Yukari rubbed her back until it ceased away. "Now really, Hito-chan. You know you shouldn't run so much, especially in the morning when you have just gotten up."

"But Yuki! I - at least - have to stay a BIT fit. The doctor said so."

"Yes, but still, take it a bit easy today, okay? The summer-holidays have just ended and we just moved here... How do you think the guys at the new school will be? I bet totally hot!"

"Is that all you can think about?? Boys and boys and boys... did I mention boys?!? I hope we can get into the same class as before. It would be great!"

"Uh-hu... Then I could copy all the test from you again!"

Hitomi nudged Yukari playfully into the ribs. They were both walking towards a bug building painted in white and blue, with big windows and trees all around it. The school had a big yard in the front and the back for the school breaks and the track and football field were also big and looked good taken care of.

The entrance and the halls of the building were packed full with student, chatting away happily. Yukari noticed with a smirk, that most of the guys stopped their doings and stared after Hitomi. She was really an eye-catcher with the long flowing hair and sparkling green eyes. She just had a such strong aura around her, which no male-being could not over-see, that she drive their stares towards her like magnets. She also brought out the protective side of them, because she looked so vulnerable. Like a china-doll, you had to be very careful with. But that was a lie. She had taken self defence and was very good at it, but she never told the boys, who were all over her and wanted her as their girl- friend. It had been the same at their old school, but Hitomi had always ignored all of them just as she did right now.

Hitomi had once been together with a guy called Amano. Even in Yukari's eyes he had been boring and very dump, always blabbering about track practice and baseball. It all in all had lasted about 3 weeks. He hadn't even thought about Hitomi's feelings, when he told about track practice. She normally never told it anyone, but she had always wanted to be in the school track team, because she loved running and had been in one at the age of 11. But after she had gotten 12, the doctors hadn't allowed it anymore, because it had been to dangerous. Since they had discovered, that...

Hitomi's voice brought Yukari back to the present: "How on earth are we going to find the principals office??? These hallways are like a maze! We should..."

*Bump!!!*

While speaking, Hitomi had turned her head towards Yukari. Not looking, she had bumped right into someone's very muscular feeling chest. The next thing she knew, was herself sitting on her rear end. Luckily, it hadn't hurt. When Hitomi lifted her gaze, her eyes met two wine-red ones, which were half covered by a black tousled mop of hair.

He was the first to speak: "Hey, you're okay?" He offered her his hand to help her up and she gladly excepted it (nodding her head in the progress ~): "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"That's okay. You two seem new here, am I right?"

"Yeah. New and kind of lost. Could you tell us, where the principals office is?"

"Just down the corridor on the left. You can't miss it, 'cause Dilly has sprayed it flaming red and yellow."

"Well, it looked rather boring after I burned it black. You're coming Van? Merle is looking for us!" A silver haired boy with red eyes, that nearly looked black, had appeared behind the black hared one. Van turned his staring gaze from Hitomi to the boy behind him: "Coming! *turning his head around again* By the way, what is your name?"

"Oh, I'm Hitomi Uchidna and this is my sister Yukari. And you two?" Hitomi didn't know why, but she would have loved to run her hand through those black strands of his. And those eyes seemed to have a sort of sad spark in them.

"I'm Van Fanel and this maniac behind me is Dilandau Albatou. Guess, I'll be seeing you around. Ciao Hitomi! Ciao Yukari!"

"Bye!", was the only thing Hitomi could shout after him, before he disappeared in the mass of students.

Yukari first looked at Hitomi, then in the direction that Van-Guy had run- off to, then back towards Hitomi, who hadn't left gaze from Van's back. "Hey dreamhead! Wake up! We gotta find that office! Hellooooooo!!??!!"

"Huh? Sorry Yuki. I was just thinking about something..."

"More about someone! A someone with black hair and red eyes, who calls himself Van Fanel."

Hitomi had the grace to blush: "Oh Yukari! Stop joking around. We gotta go and find that office." And she was off with a giggling Yukari behind her and many jealous looks from both boys and girls. Boys, because she had just like that talked to Van Fanel and girls, because she had just like that talked to Van Fanel!!! (~ The answer to that later *g* ~)

Hitomi in the mean time was wondering, if she would see Van again soon and if she would be in the same class as him. He seemed like that kind of guy, you could do anything with, especially stupid things. She nervously fumbled with her pink pendant. It was her good luck charm and the only thing that reminded her of her grandmother, who had given it to her, and her real parents.

Yukari and Hitomi finally made it to the principals office, knocked and were lead in by an very old looking man with a long grey beard and sleepy looking eyes: "Ah you must be those two new students from Hiroshima. Hitomi and Yukari Uchidna. *nods from both* Come in. I'm Isaac Dornkirk, the principal of this school. Now let me see... Ah yes. You two will be attending the same class. It is..."

And here is the end of chapter one. Hitomi has already met Van and Dilly and will soon enough meet the rest of the esca-gang. Sorry for all you Amano lovers, but I don't like him, just like Allen. So you can bet that I also wont go easy on Allen and he going to be one of the biggest jerks you have ever read about! R&R Bye!!!