Alright so for those of you who know and those of you who don't. This is one of my first stories. Originally started in 2006 and last updated in 2014. I've gone years without posting before, but this story is eternal. It is always there waiting to be finished, and I will not disappoint. I've had every kind of setback over the course of writing this. Lost chapters, corrupted files, unhappy with and constantly rewritten sections, but still I have always planned to finish this one way or another.
Over the years my writing style has changed and getting back into the flow of this one has gotten harder and harder. Now you are probably holding your breath, but don't fear, I won't change things completely. See I've had the thought that to get back into the groove it might be best to start at the beginning. This is a massive undertaking when my muse is so stir-crazy already. I am revising this story and hopefully that will help me get back in tune with it. Mostly it will be grammar corrections and possible detail additions.
Though what I am most looking forward to is updating some of the old and sort of embarrassing references. Especially the few ones with roots to the unfortunate time in my life where I was a huge fan of ICP. Yes, thank god that has passed, and I have seen the childishness. Even though I still know all the words to Fuck the World. I have matured enough not to post them in my stories. I will be leaving my old author's notes in place along with the introductions those will be in Italics from now on and the new sections before and or after the chapters will be in bold. I will not be adding * or ( ) to signify changes in the story itself because it is mostly a revision and I'd like it to be as seamless as possible. Thank you for your continual support and interest in this and my other written creations.
Welcome to my first attempt at an AU. I always tend to prefer to write sequels since Escaflowne has such an excruciatingly open ending. On the other hand I enjoy reading AUs more then any other type when it comes to Escaflowne. And though there is no shortage of good Escaflowne High school stories… I guess what I would like to say is if it sounds like someone else's story I do apologize my mind and I aren't always on speaking terms.
Disclamer; I don't own the people in this story its just fun to play around with their lives.
Last person on Earth
Chapter 1- Shut your mouth when you're speaking to me!
The glowing numbers of a digital wrist watch told the owner it was just past 1:30 am. She groaned taking the watch off and shoving it deep in her apron, as if not seeing would help. Anytime past midnight was too late to be at work, with an hour and a half left in her shift the girl wasn't sure if she would even make it out of bed in time for school not five hours from now.
Rule number one when your new in town; Never be late and your first day. Rule number two work so hard, you pass out. Normally the idea is to make a good impression but when, one gives you less than 3 hours sleep, and the other makes you want to burrow under covers for the remaining week, they don't quite go well together.
Any other day her shift was up at midnight, with side-work and clean up till 1 at the latest. Not too bad, but today would not be like any other day. That was for certain the moment she reached for the strings of her apron a rush of people poured in. The manager had asked for any volunteers to stay late, and of course the new girl smiled and happily stepped up to bat.
Until now all she had been doing was 'training', running food and drinks to tables, clearing dishes, and chasing around the other waitresses to run their errands. Thanks to the incoming mob she had been advanced to full server a few days early.
"Kanzaki?" A senior waitress' weary voice called out breaking her out the slight daze.
"Yes?" She smiled hiding the exhaustion plain on her face moments before.
"Take booth thirty-seven, the corner booth on the right." She pointed out a lone guy sitting is a large curved booth. "He comes is every night around this time. Coffee, just keep it coming and don't ask questions. He won't talk to you anyway, unless you're not fast enough. Then it could get bad."
She blinked up at the seasoned waitress. "So, I just take him coffee."
"Yeah, that's all he ever gets. You don't even need to ask his order just take him a cup and walk away. Don't ask him when he needs more. He will raise his cup slightly when he wants a refill. Just do that and he is the easiest one in here, big tipper too." A bell let off a sharp 'ding' calling the older woman. "That's my order. It will be fine. Just remember he comes for the coffee, not the company. Good luck." Just like that she was off again. With a large rush like this, the pros were little more than a blur.
"Okay easiest pain in the butt, you sure have a lot of rules." She mumbled to herself filling a mug with the steaming black brew. When she reached the table and set down the mug it was still surprising that the only person sitting at that large table seemed not to notice her or the bustling diner around him.
He didn't acknowledge her approach just continued to scroll through his phone in an almost robotic way. The guy wore a red button up shirt open with a white undershirt peeking out; khaki pants and dark leather work-boots completed the outfit. Not fashionable, but also not unpleasant to look at, his thin frame was toned and smoothly muscled. With wild raven hair just hiding his eyes, but not all of his angular face.
Just noticing that she had been staring with a blush the girlhurried off to recover. "Okay so he is a handsome jerk. Doesn't change a thing; give him coffee walk away with money. This can't be too hard after all." She quickly cleared off a vacated table in time to see Mr. Antisocial raise his mug at her. "What did he do inhale it?"
With a speed that showed the other racing waitresses up she had his cup refilled and was walking away when she heard him mumble "So slow."
Gritting her teeth together just to not turn around and snap at the ungrateful patron. Letting out the breath she she had been holding. "Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk. Jerk." Chanting under her breath to calm down and she continued to work her rounds.
It became like a challenge, the second his cup came off the table to flag her. She was there, had it refilled and was gone before he could blink.
"Kanzaki?" A voice behind her questioned.
"Yes, Mina?" She turned to look at the bus girl that called her name. Mina had long brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail; the bottom was a much lighter shade of brown and hung down to her lower back. She seemed like a nice nice girl and always liked helping out.
"I've never seen table 37 drink so, much this quick." The awe in her voice was new.
"What Mr. Coffee?" She snorted unipressed by the moody patron
The busser laughed quietly "That's a good name for him. Sounds as if you like him or something?"
"W-what? Where did you get that ridiculous idea?" She stuttered, though she couldn't deny he was good looking. Nothing could ever be between her and a jerk like that.
"I don't know, it kind of looks like this could be his way of flitting." The smaller girl mused thoughtfully
"You have got to be joking!" Blushing hard for the second time tonight. "Why would I like an arrogant, self-centered, jerk like him!" She hissed between her teeth so only Mina could hear.
"Sorry. Sorry, no offence." The younger girl threw her hands up quickly in defeat. "By the way your favorite guy is calling." She motioned over to the patron dubbed Mr. Coffee, who again had his mug in the air.
Suppressing a groan, she grabbed the never empty pot of coffee and stomped moodily over. In fact the waitress was fuming so hard that she didn't notice that the kids at the neighboring table had thrown crayons onto the floor. She stepped directly onto into one and in that instant last her balance. Slipping and falling forward right onto table 37. The whole pot of coffee still in her clenched hand poured right into the lap of the world's most anal customer.
"SHIT!" He jumped up and away from her with a yell of pain.
"I am so sorry! Let me get some napkins. Oh, I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" She groveled embarrassed and ashamed at the accident.
He glared directly into her eyes with his piercing mahogany gaze. His eyes lowered to her shirt. "Hitomi, forget the napkins and get me your manager." He growled through locked jaw and gritted teeth.
Before Hitomi could turn the manager was already there bustling her away. "Mr. Fanel I do apologize for her. Hitomi just stared tonight and you know how nervous the new ones get. Your coffee for the rest of the week will be on the house. If there is anything else, I can do. Please feel free to ask."
"Fire her." Was all he said, standing rigidly there so the silent on lookers could see the full damage. He was soaked with cooling liquid from his stomach to nearly his knees. He began to walk out the fabric clinging to his body uncomfortably. He stopped next to her their eyes locking for the first time. "I have a tip for you. You are a waitress your job is to serve me. The fact that you can't even do the simplest task says a lot about you doesn't it." His face was so close to hers they could have kissed, if he didn't look ready to commit murder.
"Well, I have a tip for you too." Hitomi's eyes flashed challenging him. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but your breath stinks almost as bad as your attitude!"
His face registered with pure shock, as though no one had ever talked to him that way. Before he could retort the angry young waitress stomped off into the kitchen.
Once out of sight she crumpled up into a ball hugging her knees. She felt cold, looking down at her shirt Hitomi saw that it too was soaked with coffee. Angry tears burned her eyes threatening to fall, the last thing she wanted to smell like right now was that jackass and his damned coffee.
"He is gone." Mina knelt down in front of her "The manager says you can go home for the day." She gave Hitomi a comforting smile.
"I'm not fired?" She asked in awe.
"No, everyone says that you had a lot of guts, and it wasn't really your fault anyways. You just can't work past midnight anymore. As long as you don't see Mr. Coffee again you should be fine." She looked down at Hitomi's splattered shirt. "You didn't bring a jacket, did you?"
Hitomi shook her head.
"You can borrow mine. Otherwise you'd catch cold out there. I bet you he will." Mina grinned with malicious pleasure at the thought.
"Thank you." Hitomi let the younger girl help her up. "See you tomorrow."
"What else are friends for?" Mina waved her out the back door. "See you tomorrow."
To Be Continued…
Ah years of experience as a waitress put to good use. I was supposed to have her starting School in this chapter too but couldn't figure out how to start it. If you are lucky Chapter two might be up by the end of the day… don't get your hopes up. It is still me queen of procrastination.
You've read now review.
Banryuu (formally known as thundersenshi17)
A/N- Well a few corrections, but that wasn't so bad. I forgot how much shorter these chapters were when I first started out. Much less than my normal writing these days. I mostly changed the 'She' every five seconds with other personal discriptives. One of the things was that I didn't want to call her Hitomi or describe her right off the bat. I wanted other people to account for those details, so it was more organic. I don't think of myself by first name or how I look, because that is normal for me, but I take notice of those things of other people. Next chapter will be ready shortly.