Hmm….okay, I guess I've been long enough on an update, hmm? This chapter was supposed to be longer, but I kind of like how it stand on its own – it's all about Van. I'll update shortly to keep it going. After all, I'm really starting to like this. A lot of my storie I started writing when I was younger and they don't quite feel the same, though I've tried to pick up some dignity with them. Ho-hum… I'm doomed to rewrite them someday so that they'll sound more mature. Urgh.

Anyway, here we go. I hope you enjoy it!

Note: I really really REALLY need an editor/beta-reader. I've gone too long without one. I need someone experienced, who write stories as well. If you're interested, I would be SO HAPPY. Please e-mail me!

Review on your way out!


Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, but I wish I owned Van :(


Second Note: Please be warned that there is excess cussing in this chapter. I'm really sorry about that, I myself don't actually cuss, but I thought it would be a good mood-setter. Van isn't exactly one to make things easy...and I wanted something that would be kind of unsettling when we first really get to know him. It's all a means to an interesting end!


Φίλημα των ματιών της μουσικής /

Baciare Gli Occhi Di Musica /

Kissing the Eyes of Music

Song Two: Fiasco!

(In anything but a natural key)


The cab he sat back in was bleak, dirty, and dark – starkly different than the sight he had left just a few moments before. With ease, he saw her form in his mind, lithe and tall – but strong – like the dancer she was – leaning against the railing of the stairs that led up to her apartment. The shadows of soft yellow lights in the garden alleyway – more like a thin courtyard – softening her features, no matter how blunt her words were. Van caught himself wondering what her apartment looked like – how big was it? Did she have a kitchen? A couch? What color was it?

How big was her bed?

And he suddenly remembered her hips being a bit wider than most of the dancers at the Academy, and how that really accented her long, strong legs. Hips to be grabbed with hands…

To his utter horror, Van felt his cheeks rise with heat.

What the hell? I've thought of girls like that before and never- And he felt his forehead. His cheeks, too? Van groaned.

Yup. He was blushing.

Van was now angry – what the hell was his body thinking? He had seen MUCH more shapely women than this Kanzaki-Degasso girl. In fact, he would go so far to say that she was a bit on the gangly side – and had small breasts. Yeah. Right.

But he remembered her eyes – the green. They were all round and surprised half of the time – he could see everything she was feeling. He wondered if she could ever cloud her eyes from people seeing the truth of her own emotions in them. She seemed desperately trying to at one point in the night. He grinned to himself at that – he knew she was attracted to him.

But did she know?

"Here you go, Sir." The driver had stopped in front of his dorm, and interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh – thanks," Van mumbled, a little dazed from being drawn from his intense thoughts. He paid the driver with his card and gave him a tip, stepping out of the vehicle and heading back into his dorm. He stood at the front door, punching in the pass code and sliding his ID. He found it amusing – for a child that grew up being escorted around Europe and North America in limos and personal cars, always living in a nice place, Van had adamantly chosen to live in the dorms – with the tiny, miniscule rooms, and even tinier mattresses – no matter what his parents said. Gaou, his father, had argued with him till Van's ears were red. Why would he want to live in such a small place? It wasn't necessary, they had plenty of money to get him an apartment or pay for a fraternity…blah blah blah. But his mother understood – at least Van thought she did. There was something of slyness in her smile when he told his parents what he wanted to do at Adante. And to even make his father madder, Van had waited to tell them after the due date of getting better housing, intentionally pissing his father off. Now he would have to stay there no matter what, and had for the past year and a half, renewing his contract with pleasure – again seeing Gaou's ears redden from anger and Varie's laugh at Van's intense rebellion.

Van liked being in the dorms - Besides, a lot of his friends were NOT the same as him at all – Gaddess himself was struggling to make enough money to pay for tuition and housing, unlike Van. He was counting on their band to kick off so he could cut time at his grunt construction job, opening up more time to study and actually do something he liked. It made Van guilty a lot of the time – Gaddess was his roommate and one of his best friends, and Van had approached the band thing with a muted interest. He had approached Andante always with muted interest – but isn't that what one did? Get a degree in something that came natural? Everything with music just came to him, like a gift. A lot of people at Andante really had to work at their art – Gaddess was one of them.

Van felt guilty for that, too. In fact, he felt pretty sour with himself a lot these days - when he was here. Andante Academy. He knew it was the right thing – the smartest, easiest thing to do. Folken had done it, too.

But what about something new? Something hard or challenging? Something he had to figure out for himself?

Van quickly cut off that mutinous, distracting train of thought and filled his brain with other more realistic and pressing matters of daily life. With irritation, Van realized that the whole ordeal he went through that night had distracted him and Gaddess from talking to the club manager about a gig. He scowled. If only Dilandau and that blonde-haired bimbo of a man hadn't decided to pick a fight that night.

But then again, Van thought with a sly grin, he would have never met that beautiful green-eyed girl.

Beautiful? He thought, his voice in his mind getting darker. She's not pretty or anything…she's…..she's like a little girl!

Agitated, he made his way upstairs and to his floor, and Van sunk into deeper and darker thoughts. Yes, yes he did think she was beautiful. But he was attracted to many women…physically. Why would a girl like that ever truly be interested in someone like him, anyway? Of course she was attracted to him, there was definitely something there. Something good, something bad, he wasn't sure - but he knew it was a start. With a shadow across his eyes, he remembered her spiteful words:

"Isn't there someone waiting for you 'at your place'?"

He glowered. It wasn't any of her fucking business what he did. He knew in that moment that she had already made a pretty hefty judgment of him – and that really pissed him off. People had been judging him from the moment he stepped out of the realms of his family – and he would not put up with it, not even from her. But something of his anger at her died a little. He couldn't find himself to hate her, no matter how cutting that was.

But it was true, wasn't it? He was a bastard. A sex-fiend bastard. Van shrunk into himself even more. She seemed really innocent – too innocent, and even though she was attracted to him – the same pull he felt towards her – she had adamantly ignored it, despite her embarrassment. Van wondered if she usually went against her desires like that.

Van shook his head. What the hell was happening to him? Why was he thinking about this so much? He had just met her that night! It was just one girl! One girl!

One woman.

His face heated again – for the second damned time that night! - He remembered his own words:

"What's so funny?" She had asked defensively. He had laughed, a real laugh, and he wasn't around Gaddess or Dilandau or Folken, he was with her. Alone.

"You . . . you are so strange," He had said, smiling even more when she frowned in displeasure at that comment, "I like you."

"I can't believe I actually said that." Van mumbled darkly to himself as he grabbed the door handle to his room and unlocked it, "It's like I had to be honest with her there or something."

Van walked in, the room was quiet. That was strange, he thought, Gaddess should have been back before him.

"Gaddess?" He called out, looking into the dark, small room, noticing that though there was no one in his friend's bed, there was an eerie lump of shadow perched on his.

"Gaddess isn't here."

The hairs on the back of Van's neck stiffened as he realized who it was – recognizing the suggestive voice of a silky whisper. He narrowed his eyes angrily and flicked the lights on. She was half sitting, half laying on his small bed, propped up in what she must have thought was a seductive manner. "Kira." He growled low.

She obviously thought that meant his was approving or wanted her or something, because her red lips curled up into a smile and she legs rose ever so slightly, revealing black underwear. She pushed her shoulders up, caving in her chest as her chest rose against her chemise.

Van rolled his eyes. He was in no mood for this tonight. Plus, if his Floor Advisor caught him with another girl in his room, Van was sure he would get kicked out for good. He had warned him with a pretty serious look in his eyes the last time he brought a girl into the dorm for a little late-night fling. Very serious, actually. Van's couldn't risk that - where would he be housing if not at the dorms? After his little spat with Hitomi, Van really did not feel in the mood for confrontation with anyone. He was, frankly, glad that Gaddess was gone for the time being. He did not want to talk to his Floor Advisor, and he especially did not want to talk, listen, or do anything with Kira. In fact, he had been feeling pretty against her whole 'handy' way of dealing with him the whole night. She was way too hands-on, even for him. He felt a little dirty. HE felt that!

She didn't seem to notice his darkened, angrier mood. Impatient with his silence, Kira got up and moved towards him slowly. "Van…" she smiled up at him, pulling his waist towards her, the pads of her fingers snaking their way around his sides.

Van felt sick, and he was getting even angrier. What right did she have to just come strolling in here? Wait, Van thought, how DID she get in here? In HIS room. HIS bed. No one had a right to be in here unless he was at the door asking them to come in! All at once, Van felt extremely violated, as if he had been stolen from.

And Van did not like to be stolen from.

Kira, as usual, didn't notice anything except what she was doing with her hands.

Van roughly snapped his hands around her wrists, pulling her aside him as if she were a rag doll. In a swift movement, he shoved her on Gaddess' bed. Kira sprung on the mattress, confusion in her eyes.

Oh, so he wanted to play it rough, she thought, and moved for him again.

Van noticed it and rolled his eyes, sneering at her loathingly. He went to the other side of the room and took off his jacket, ignoring her.

"Van-"

"Get out." He said, his voice dangerously low.

Kira didn't understand. Her cheeks heated in embarrassment. Did he not want her? "But…but Van, you-"

His shoulders tensed and he repeated his order: "Out." It ground through his teeth.

Obviously, she didn't know what she was dealing with. "Tonight, we were-"

"Get the FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM!" He bellowed, his hair rising slightly and his eyes fire-red. For the first time in the few months Kira knew Van, her fear was plain in her face. Van didn't feel at all apologetic for his language. Why the fuck was she still standing there?

Kira would have had her feelings hurt if it weren't for her intense pride in herself. The fear in her eyes quickly morphed into embarrassed anger. She could now not feel responsible for the actions that ensued. Every man wanted her! She was never denied! And now, in her embarrassment, she had come to his room – Gaddess had, while she watched him, come home for the night, but, as if he had forgotten something, went out again, and had left the door open. She, with her scantly-clad body, had come in and waited for him - she had waited for him – and now he was giving her this act? As if – as if she wasn't good enough for him? He was the bastard here!

"Why the fuck are you still standing there?" Van's eyes blazed. He was sick of people trying to get his to do things he didn't want – he was sick of himself, of being here, of not feeling anything but a darkened need to be pissed off and removed from everything. His anger chilled as his red eyes iced over and steeled at her. Kira flinched, backing away as if she had been burned.

"I don't know how you got in here," Van said flatly, seeming to regain control with is coldness, "But I better never find you in here again."

Kira couldn't stand it any longer. "You BASTARD!" She screamed.

It was then that Van heard the hurried footsteps coming down the hall. Great! If that was the Floor Advisor-

"You think you're so damn cool – how DARE you treat me this way!" She moved to slap him but Van caught her hand – the steps were nearer and all Van heard was a slam of a door that distracted him. In that moment, another slap suddenly coming from the other side – somewhere. He only heard it. Van felt his cheek redden. It stung just slightly. His cold eyes burned. Why was she hitting him? She was in his room!

"Van Fanel!" An angry voice shuddered through his room. Then suddenly he could hear other people in his hall starting to wake up. "You'd better explain yourself!" The floor advisor was standing angrily at his door, staring in shocked horror – and Van noticed a bit of embarrassment in the older man's eyes – at Kira's supple but very little clothed form. Van groaned. Oh, great…

One look at Kira did it. "Fanel," The floor advisor seethed (a few heads popped out behind from the Advisor, some of the other guys wanted to see what was going on. Van always had something funny to see…), "This is the last straw! I told you two weeks ago that one more time and that was it! NO GIRLS STAY IN THE BOY'S FLOOR!"

Kira turned her head at the man then whipped her gaze back on Van, understanding. She looked at him incredulously, "Were you cheating on me?"

Van gave a throaty, cynical laugh. "Kira, we were never going out. You were a date. Don't act all innocent with me. I know you've done much worse….married worse, if the rumors are correct."

Kira withdrew from him instantly, her mouth and eyes widening impossibly large. How could anyone know that? Her eyes narrowed. Now, she was just pissed off, and her hurt pride wasn't helping. She, with as much force an angry woman can manage – which is a lot – promptly kicked him in the shin.

"Ow! God damnit! What the hell was that for!" Van angrily grabbed his leg as Kira grabbed her jacket and stormed out the door, ignoring the stares of the other boys.

"I hope you rot in hell!" She yelled.

"I'll make sure to say hello to you when I see you down there, you whore!" Van yelled venomously back, babying his shin with his hands. He was a sight to see.

Kira didn't flinch at his hateful words and left, storming out of the building.

The Floor Advisor watched all of this pass with raised eyebrows, standing with his arms folded to the side. Van rolled his eyes and instantly calmed down, hopping towards his chair by his desk and rolling up his jean pant leg. It was red, but man, it really kinda hurt. The girl had some pretty tough kicks! Van let it go. It wasn't the first time. He despised presumptuous women like Kira. To intrude on him – he, who kept his relationships with women very strict – very limited! No ones but his closest friends and family was allowed near him, when he allowed them to. To just barge into his room like –

"Fanel, pack your room," The Floor Advisor said calmly, disgust tinting his words – he resented Van, and every guy on the floor knew it - "You have violated Adante Housing Rules, and, as a consequence, may no longer live on campus. You have by the end of the week to move out and find another place to live. At that time," he recited it as if he knew the written rules by heart, "You will return you key and card to me-"

"Wait!" Van stood up, shocked. Could this really be happening? What would his mother say when she found out? She'd be so disappointed – and his father – Oh God! He would never hear the end of it! "Wait – can't you….can't you look this over just this once? David, you've done it before-"

"No," David, the Advisor, said flatly. He was reddening. Yes, he had let it slide before, but someone would find out, and he would be in big trouble if someone higher up found out he was allowing the guys on his floor to bring girls in at night. "I had already given you a warning."

Van gathered what little dignity he had left – he was losing his cool way too much this night. He leaned back and stuffed his hands in his pockets, glaring at David, "Fine." He said evenly.

David knew the tone and his voice started to falter. In this kind of situation, having Van mad at him was not a desirable thing for anyone. He gathered his courage. He had to kick Van out! "Friday – by noon." And the man turned on his heel and headed back to his room by the stairs.

Van rolled his eyes and steamed on his own, standing with his arms folded. Some of the guys were still watching him with their mouths agape. Leave it to Fanel to get in trouble because of a girl and a scandalous situation! Van always had some girl on him – he was just really blessed with good looks. Van saw their admiring looks and got even more pissed off. He stormed over to the door and took it in his hand, "Go back to sleep!" he gritted out, slamming the door in their faces.

Van heard scampering behind the door, and released a big breath he had been holding.

And then he realized just exactly what happened.

One week.

"Fuck."