It Happened One Flight

Chapter Two: The Meeting – Part Two

The first part of the flight between London and Sydney lasted 14 hours, and it was the Singapore stopover. As they talked late during the night, they woke up only with the scent of the brunch served into the cabin.

Van was the first to open his eyes and noticed the compromising position he and Hitomi were in. During their sleep, Van's head had found its place on Hitomi's so that he was practically sniffing into her hair. And she was almost resting on his chest her head crocked at the base of his neck and as she had wrapped her arms round his chest they were literally hugging. He did not dare moving for he did not want to wake her up but when the flight attendant reached their raw with the brunch tray, Van had had no choice.

-"Van..." she sighed softly caressing her cheek against his shoulder in response to his calls. When she finally opened her eyes and realized the position they were in, a violent crimson shade flushed to her face.

-"Good morning Sleeping Beauty" he said smiling gently, trying not to embarrass her further more.

-"G-Good morning". She barely could mutter it because of her embarrassment.

They kept silent during the meal, when suddenly they cast "I'm sorry for what happened" at the exact same time which had as an effect to make them laughed heartedly.

During the stop, passengers were given the choice to stay in the plane or to get out.

They both decided to stay inside and happened to be the only passengers remaining in the cabin apart from 2 sleeping people. During the next hour and a half they chatted about their childhood, they laughed a lot at certain memories and Van even accidentally found out Hitomi's weak point that could make her do almost all what you want... Haägen Dazs' Cookie Crunch... "A very powerful thing. Once you tasted it, you can't make it without it!" according to her. As the passengers were filling the cabin, they had to calm down the rhythm of their laughter. They watched in-flight movies, discussed about them, and then slept some more.

Whereas they were reaching Australian coasts, Hitomi Woke up and slightly opened her window, to see where they were. She suddenly turned to Van who was reading and asked him:

-"Have you ever seen a thunderstorm from above?" She had some sort of excitement and amazement in her eyes. Then she turned back to the window and she saw one of the most amazing scene she had ever been given to witness. Lightening. There was a violent storm going on under them and they saw how the light just goes from one cloud to another without being troubled by the rain. Van approached his head above Hitomi's shoulder to peep at what was mesmerizing her and although he thought it was very beautiful, he found himself somewhat more interested in the neck exposed to his gaze, and, after several seconds that felt like eternity to him, he dared a little kiss, right under her right ear as the planed entered a turbulence area. She immediately turned around to face him. Their faces were separated by only few millimeters and the distance closed with one of the plane convulsions. Although they were quite embarrassed, they did not move, whether in shock or purposefully. The turbulence helping it, Hitomi grasped Van's arm as she was kind of afraid and he didn't loosen the tight embrace he had pulled Hitomi in when she flung over.

Hitomi's point of view:

'Oh my God! We kissed! Did he kiss me or did he slip because of the turbulences. If he kissed me, what am I supposed to do? I'm not yet over Allen... I can't have feelings for a guy I did not even know existed the day before! I can't be over Allen yet... you don't date a man during three years almost get engaged and erase him from your heart within a week! But though... when I want to picture him mentally, his expression mixes up with some of Van's features and finally it is always Van I see. What the hell has come to my mind? Nooooo... no no no no no no! I'm not in love! I, Hitomi Kanzaki do not fall in love that easily!' then looking sideway to him ' or maybe...?'

Van's point of view:

'Oh my God! I kissed her... twice! But was I thinking? She told me she was experiencing a major break-up and I play around with her...! No... I wasn't playing... I really wanted to kiss... I really wanted to keep her tightly close... ok, two things: 1/ I don't fall in love easily and 2/ I've always refused to be the guy after the break-up. So conclusion: it was just a game. Yeah! That's it... it was just a game. I was playing around.

...Would she agree to hang out sometimes in Sydney, or London even...? Should I give her my number... just in case...? Or ask for hers maybe...? Christ!'

Being in utmost confusion, Hitomi thanked him for reassuring her when the plane was experiencing all the fuss and decided not to talk about what seemed to be a kiss. And both remained mute till the landing in Sydney.

-"Ladies and gentlemen, please go back to your seat, fasten your seat belt and stow your table, we are about to start the landing procedure."

-"Australia" sighed Hitomi.

-"Is there anyone waiting for you at the airport?" asked Van on a tone he wanted the most neutral and happened to be slightly kinder than he intended to. 'No... why did I ask? If it's yes I'll be depressed and if it's no I'll be frustrated... in any case I can't make a move... I'm such a dumb ass!'

-"No... Yukari couldn't make it so I have to take a cab."

-"Ok." replied Van, rather dryly.

'I hope he is not vexed because I did not respond to the kiss...I don't even know if it was one! And besides, I was just so surprised... (sigh) why doesn't he propose me a ride?'

-"And you?" asked Hitomi, hesitantly

-"Equal... I have to take a cab..." he responded not looking at her.

-"Maybe.... Maybe we could share one... that is ...if we're going in the same way...?" she proposed even more hesitantly than she was before.

'What have I just done? What will he think? Anyway, if he accepts, it will only not to be rude... little reminder for later: next time you get a stupid idea, KEEP IT FOR YOU!'

-'Yahoo! She asked! She asked! ok Van... do not smile goofy, don't smile... I SAID DON'T !'

"Well this could be an idea... since you don't know the town, some merciless taxi driver could make you do rounds in town..." saying so he couldn't help but do a huge smile and a wink.

After the little taxi ride from the airport to Yukari's, Van exited the car first to keep the door open to Hitomi and help her out.

-"What a gentleman! You'll congratulate your mother for me ..." she said half teasingly and above all to hide her astonishment.

-"You can do it yourself...she's watching me from the above now" he said sadly smiling, not knowing whether his sadness was for his mother or for leaving Hitomi.

-"Oh! I'm terribly sorry! I didn't know..." she said, taking him affectionately in her arms, as if for cheering up a child.

-"It's ok... she died I was 15… it's been 10 years now!" they both smiled but neither did nor even thought of loosening their hug.

-"I... I would really appreciate if you would mind seeing me sometimes... here, or in London maybe..." Said Van hesitantly

-"HITOMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" Hitomi turned her head not having the time to give Van an answer.

-"Yukari!" and just ran to her friend. Few seconds later she was telling Yukari she had met someone on the plane and that she wanted to introduce him but when she turned, all she saw was her suitcase by Yukari's front door.

-"Noooo! Van? Va-an? VAAAAN? Meta crap! And I didn't not even answer!"

-"Answer to what?" asked a clueless Yukari.

-"He told me that he would appreciate if I minded seeing him sometimes here or in London..."

-"Ha... and you would have said...?"

-"That I'd be glad to..." she said, a her voice tinted with disappointment.

-"Oh? What was that sad smile there? Come on we're in Australia! Both here!"

-"Yeah! And I'm craving to see the inside of your house!"

-"Here! I prefer this big bright smile! Come on in!"

-"So... what's the plan?" Hitomi said after changing.

-"The plan is no plan... what do you want to do? Are you tired or are you on for a dinner at Pablo's?"

-"Pablo's?"

-"Yeah! My Cuban friend whom I told about your coming and absolutely wants to meet you!"

-"Well tonight I'm a little tired... and it has been such a long time since we last met..."

-"So I did well to decline and phone to Chinese delivery instead I assume...?" Said Yukari with this mimic of hers, a wink and the tip tongue out.

-"Yuki, you're the best!"

-"So... tell me everything!!! We have a lot of catching up to do here!!!"

Yukari was over-excited as Hitomi started telling her everything about the whereabouts in London and her flight. They talked for hours about how their lives had moved on for two years and of course the why of Hitomi's travel. After Hitomi had told her everything, Yuki marked a pause as if to think intensely:

-"Ok... and this Van Fanel guy gave you a ride here?"

-"Yup, that's it!"

-"And then?" asked Yukari quite excited.

-"And then you came."

-"Huhu... I see... let me ask you a question. You came because of your break-up with Allen, I'm asking you about your life hoping that you would spill all the venom you have against that fucking bastard so that I could, at last, say 'I told you baby this guy was a jerk!' and all you've talked to me about for the past 2 hours, besides your family, is how great Mr. Van Fanel was. Have you realized it?"

-"Realized what? I don't like your look here..."

-"Realized that you had fallen for him! And after what you told me.. I'd bet it is not one-sided...!"

-"WHAT? ME? In love with a guy I didn't even know 24 hours ago? This is ridiculous! Plus, I'm not over Allen... not after a week.."

-"The way you overreact shows significantly that you're lying and you are so totally over Allen that you stopped counting days... it's not been a week but 9 days" declared Yukari solemnly though with an amused grin.

-"Yuki.. go to hell... and take your psychology degree with you! You don't understand that I still love Van! No! Not Van, Allen! I still love Allen! God you're so confusing me that I don't even remember where I stand now!" replied Hitomi and once she was finished buried her face under a couch pillow.

-"Sydney, New South Wales, Australia." Stated Yukari. "And if you say you don't love him... well I respect your opinion... Oh! By the way, tomorrow we're having lunch at Folken's... he has invited some friend for lunch so you won't be on your own and still I can introduce him to you... I'd really like to know what you think of him."

-"Ok... sure, but for now I think I may need my beauty sleep if you don't want your lover to scream when seeing me with puffy eyes from jet lag."

-"Ok, good night sister... and do not dream too much about your knight in shining armor..." she teased.

-"Of whom?"

-"You saw my point!... don't play it clueless with me!" said Yukari narrowing her eyes.

-"Ok.. whatever... Big Kiss lil' sis'!"

To Be Continued...


A/N: Once again, thank you to Natcha and Remedy, my two proof readers, you guys rock!