Hey guys! Cev here. I'm just cranking 'em out lately, hmmm? I'm having fun updating lately. Especially since I've been getting good feedback. It's always encouraging. However, I welcome any criticism, too, no matter how harsh. Come on, I can take it. :P.

Anyway, the subject I'm about to embark upon is a very..."touchy" one, so just as a forewarning, if you don't approve of the whole teacher/student making out in the janitor's closet, then you probably need to bee somewhere else (hmm...yeah, right, no making out in the janitor's closet, sorry ya'll). So, with that behind us, I just have one more thing to say, and then we'll be out and about! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The story of which inspired me to write on this lovely taboo, "Forbidden Love", belongs to the wonderful author Love Witch. Of course, there are small similarities, and the huge one of the student/teacher theme, but I have been given permission from Love Witch herself to start and finish her first notioned story, since she is no longer with us here. And, she's kinda helping me out, and has even become my own wonderful beta-reader! Yes!

So make sure you give her praise, first. So, that being said, I also note that though very much inspired by her, this story is written, directed, and organized by me. Of course, I don't claim Escaflowne or any of its wonderful characters. For those of you wanting to criticise my creativity, I'd rather you look around at all the other template "Hitomi Returns to Gaea", "The Escaflowne Characters as High School Students" fics out there, and save your "creative rants" for them.

I really don't expect any of these said "rants", but I'm just putting this up just in case. I mean, there are some really kickass "Hitomi Returns to Gaea", High School, etc fics out there. Really. But that's mostly credited to the fact that the author of such "kickass stories" has great control and depth when it comes to the English language.

So, without further ado, let's read!

A Recollection of Forbidden Love

By Cev

Chapter One: Boarding Flight

Of course, everything that happened between us wasn't just at the high school. In fact, it was mostly everything outside of school that brought us together. I think people need to understand this.

But this world is caught up in legalities.

You can sue McDonalds for making you fat, sue the company for the paint peeling on your car that somehow caused your accident, sue the school ISD for allowing a teacher to have romantic relations with one of his students...

These are just some examples I've heard from Folken, though.

Here in the terminal, my stomach pitted in anxiety, my bright imagination flares my senses. And I can almost hear his voice again; feel his breath against my skin. I look to everyone waiting in murmuring silence, the droning noise, coffee, food, newspapers. Even the snowflakes blanketing the runway take on significance as I wait for my plane. And I only mind a little that it delays my departure.

All in good time, I'm telling myself; I just need to be patient.

You see, it's been a few years. Two, actually, since I've seen him. And today…

Today is the best day of my life.

Well, that's not exactly true.

The best day of my life was when I met him.

I know it's corny, I know it sounds like a ridiculous start to an unlikely love story.

Let me tell you, this was very unlikely. However, it wasn't always just about love.

His older brother was, and still amiably is as ever, a good friend to my dear Uncle Gaddess. And when Gaddess unexpectedly had to take care of me when I was so much younger, I got close to them both. Van might be four years older than I, but when we were that young, it didn't matter. Not even when you're that much older, does it matter.

The problem is our prepubescent, adolescent, kick-started hormones age.

Oh, and that thundered in that time. Ruled our very lives.

I do regret some things. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't. And anyone else who covets that default "I have no regrets" phrase is a liar, or mostly just a pig-headed, unchanging moron. I know this. My parents are pig-headed, unchanging morons. But Van is pretty pig-headed too, so let's just say that we did some very wrong things.

So I guess people might call these happenings, my story and his, illegal.

People could say this is a story about forbidden love.

Don't get me wrong, because it really is, but…

But...I'd really like to think, that it's more a story about coming-of-age. And not just the loss of innocence with experience…

Because it was more finding out who I wanted to be, and where I wanted to go in my life.

Right now, I'm going into the arms, yes, however cliché it might sound, of the one man I could ever love in this way. This is where I want to go, where I want to be. I know we can't follow each other hopelessly, and I know I can't run after him like a child. It doesn't work that way.

No, I'm going to him so that we can walk towards our futures together, hand in hand, looking straightforward.

"Now boarding flight A1778, Casia, Freid."

Did I mention that he's in Northern Freid right now? Probably not. Don't be alarmed. I'm going to drag him back to Fanelia in a few months.

Stupid guy. He just had to get so excited about writing that book about legends with Dryden. When they first told me I was convinced it was Dryden's doing, but that's not exactly true. He loves to write. Especially about things like this.

Looking out my window, I can see the sun just beginning to drift down into the forest behind the landing field. I'm excited because I'll be able to see the world light up at night while we fly above. I love to fly, and never get anxious, even if it's a 10-hour flight.

It could be worse. It could be a 12-hour flight.

These days, I'm always optimistic.

I bring out the most recent letter, carrying curious little scraps of what looks like dust and the tiniest of metal shards, most likely from their traversing around the caverns and deep dwellings of the holy abandoned city, Atlas. And the excavation.

I smile, looking over the things he's written and the poorly drawn pictures that look like purposefully drawn cartoons to make me laugh. Of course, I'm going to draw, picture, and paint them for him, to add my part in their little research project that's blown into a highly-acclaimed, hugely-funded operation.

Laughing and smiling to his letters, it almost seems like he's a small child amazed with a new discovery, innocent and naïve. I shouldn't be thinking that way, though. After all, at one point in my life I did have to address him as "sensei".

But it's still endearing. And of course, is another reason why I'm up here, thousands of miles above Gaea.

So now, you know where I am. And could you obviously, possibly know how much I love this man?

How much I need him?

Do you understand this: That I would travel thousands of miles to be by his side, away from my family and friends? It might be helping me and my major, but that's insignificant.

I don't have to be doing this. Don't have to be tying my little red strings to someone else's.

I just need you to know these things before I tell you our story. Or, rather, before we do.

You can judge me by this, I don't care. It doesn't phase me anymore. First you need to know everything before you can make your decision.

And so I'll tell you a story. He'll tell his part, too. And the all-mighty third person, omnipresent, will take it from here.

Pay attention, because I'm sure you'll learn something.

I know I did.

Atlas: A made-up site, not intended to be 'Atlantis'. This is a new place, separate.
Be sure to review on your way out. ;p

Chp 2 coming soon.

Cev