Okay, finally!!!!!! This has taken soooooooooo long but I think If I try to change it again, I'll go crazy. But thanks to FierySable I think I finally got it right…well even if I didn't, I don't care, that's the way it's stayin', dag nabbit!
Disclaimer: Escaflowne and everything related are owned by the jerks at Sunrise who wouldn't make a second season. Notice the fact that I'm not the one that owns Esca. The only thing I have rights to is the plot and Daleila…so if you have a problem with Hitomi, Van, Allen, or (god forbid) Dillandou, sue Sunrise. If you have a problem with Daleila or this story…that's what a review is for! ^_^
On with the story!
Chapter Five—Proposal
A slight breeze blew over the observatory grounds. The sun was setting and the sky was a bright canvas, an invisible hand slowly covering the bright oranges, yellows and pinks with a dark purple, navy blue and finally black, sprinkling it all with stars as a finishing touch.
They were alone in the back part of the observatory's grounds, looking out across the landscape to the city as it was becoming illuminated with lights. There was silence as they appreciated the night and each other's company.
"Hitomi?" Van addressed her softly. "I've had something on my mind for quite a while and I wanted your opinion on it."
"Sure," Hitomi turned to Van, ready to listen to what he had to say.
"Well," he began as he took her hand. He looked down at it, avoiding her eyes, and cleared his throat.
Okay, you can do this. "It's not like she's going to say no," Daleila had said.
He then got down on one knee and Hitomi's eyes grew wide.
"I was wondering if you …" he cleared his throat again to keep his voice from shaking. "Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
Silence. The words hung in the air for what seemed like hours. He looked up at her. Hitomi was staring down at him, her mouth slightly open in surprise and shock.
Oh god, Van thought. What was I thinking? This is too fast. She's going to hate me now. I'm such an idiot…
He slowly stood up, keeping his head down as he felt a crimson blush creep into his face. He was about to walk away to crawl into a hole somewhere when he was grabbed around the neck in a tight embrace.
Now it was Van's turn to be surprised.
"Yes, yes! A million times, yes!!" an ecstatic Hitomi exclaimed.
Van's surprise was immediately replaced by pure joy as he spun his fiancée around. When he finally put her down she started laughing uncontrollably.
"I don't think it was that funny," he told her, though he felt like laughing out loud in delight and relief. He knew that the grin on his face could not get any larger.
Hitomi continued to laugh. "You…should have seen…the look on your face!" she spit out between giggles.
Van blushed slightly. "Well, you had me scared for a minute."
I thought I had made a terrible mistake.
With a laugh, she fell into his arms, kissing him tenderly.
~
"Engaged!!" Daleila exclaimed.
"Don't act so shocked, Ms. Azusa," Hitomi calmly replied. "I know you put him up to it."
It was the next morning and Daleila had come over early and she and Hitomi were enjoying the bright sunny morning on the balcony of Hitomi's apartment.
"No way!" Daleila cried. "How could you say that, chica? All you two ever talk about is each other! Sure, you talk more than he does, but you two love each other, it's obvious! You belong together and so he naturally proposed…"
"Ha! How do you know I didn't propose?" Hitomi asked with narrowed eyes.
"Uh…well…I just supposed he did…it a guy's job isn't it? I mean, he proposes, you drag him down the aisle threatening death if he doesn't sign the papers…" Daleila started to babble, her hair showing a slight streak of yellow nervousness.
Hitomi burst out laughing. "Hey, I'm just teasing you. I know you put him up to it."
"No, seriously Hitomi…"
"Don't worry about it," Hitomi interrupted. "Actually I'm glad you did." She leaned back in the lounge chair and sipped her morning tea. Her comment was met by a puzzled expression.
"I know Van, " she continued. "He's grown up in the expression of feelings department since I last saw him but it still would have taken him forever and a day to propose to me. I was considering asking him to marry me because I knew that he would never do it on his own. That's just the way Van is."
"By the way, I like the ring. What I would like to know is how much you spent on it because I know Van couldn't have up with enough money to buy jewelry in just ten days without me knowing about it."
"Okay," her friend said sheepishly. "I did take him shopping but he picked it out on his own. As for the price, let's just say Van owes me quite a portion of his country." She smiled playfully.
Hitomi looked down at the silver ring on her finger. It was in the shape of a feather, and she couldn't have imagined something more appropriate for an engagement ring from Van.
"It's beautiful. I'm going to have to repay you, too-- for everything you've done for me and for us."
"Well," Daleila said, pouring her second cup of coffee, "You can pay me back by letting me be a bridesmaid."
"Hmmm… I dunno," Hitomi said. "I was thinking of asking my other best friend…"
Daleila kicked Hitomi's chair, then laughed. "Ingrate."
There was a moment of silence. A bird could be heard chirping in the distance. It was a very relaxing sound that was interrupted by some angry driver honking his horn because he had been cut off.
Ah, the city life…Hitomi thought.
"So when do you plan to get married?" Daleila interrupted her thoughts.
Hitomi frowned. The question had caught her off guard. She thought for a minute.
"I really don't know. But I want it to be soon. I don't know exactly how long Van's been away from Gaea, but he's been here for ten days. And if it's the same time in Gaea, people are going to start to worry. It's not good that Fanelia go too long without a king. He needs to go back but I have no idea how to do it."
"Incidentally," Daleila said putting her mug down and pouring in more coffee, "Where is His Majesty anyway?"
"He's still asleep in the other room," Hitomi responded, motioning over her shoulder.
Daleila rolled her eyes. "Royalty."
"Are you going to tell your family?" she asked seriously.
Hitomi furrowed her brow. "I don't know yet. I mean what can I tell them?"
"How about: 'Hey, Mom, Dad, guess what? You remember when I was fifteen I said I went to Gaea and helped in a war and fell in love and you thought I was crazy? Well it turns out I wasn't and now I'm engaged to marry the king of one of the countries on the planet. ^_^'" Daleila quipped.
"That was mean," Hitomi said gravely.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that, Tomi," her friend apologized, the tips of her hair taking on a white-ish lavender.
"I know. I just don't think I'll tell them just yet. It's something I'll have to figure out later," Hitomi replied.
"Where are you going to get married?" Daleila asked. "I mean, where can you get married?"
Hitomi looked at her friend blankly. "I don't understand."
"Well don't you think that they're going to ask for a place of birth or some kind of legal I.D. crap? How are you going to pull that off? Have him say, 'Oh yes, I'm from Gaea. Yes, that's another planet.'"
Hitomi sat speechless.
Daleila leaned forward and touched her friend's arm.
"I'm sorry. I don't want you to think that I'm raining on your parade or anything, but all kidding aside, these are things that you have to think about."
Hitomi bit her bottom lip. She knew Leila was right. I hadn't wanted to think about that. I know we would have some problems. But now I know…This marriage is going to be more complicated than I thought.
Daleila furrowed her brow and raised her cup of coffee to her lips.
"Won't you stop drinking so much coffee? That's your fourth cup!" Hitomi exclaimed.
"Hey, it helps me think! Do you really expect me to drink that tinted hot water, like you do? Now hush and let me think."
A few minutes of silence followed as the pair sat pondering their plan of action.
"I got it!" Daleila shouted, making Hitomi jump half a mile.
"Wonderful, but you don't have to give me a heart attack in the process."
"Listen to me for a sec," Daleila leaned forward, her tips growing green in excitement.
"I can't believe I didn't think of this before!"
"Of…" Hitomi prompted.
"Vegas!" Daleila exclaimed, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.
Hitomi blinked at her. "Vegas…as in Las Vegas? I don't see…"
"C'mon, the marriage capital of the world! Drive-in chapels, weddings every hour. It's perfect!"
"Isn't that a little cheesy…?"
"Sí, pero chica, ¿no ves? Don't you see? There, people don't ask about your back round or identification or anything. All they care is to get paid and whether you're at least eighteen. I know that you might have been thinking of having something nicer but this is the only way I can see you getting legally married with the minimal questions asked about the king of Fanelia back there," she explained, motioning over her shoulder.
Hitomi frowned. "I know you're right but…I don't know. I guess I was just imagining something else."
Daleila put her hand on Hitomi's. "I'm sorry, Tomi. But I think that this is the only way."
"Well," she continued, getting up. "You can still make the most of it. After all the important thing is that you're together, right?"
She cleaned up the cups and moved into the kitchen. On her way there, she ran into Van, who was just coming out of his room.
"Well, well. Look who decided to join the land of the living."
"Do you want some breakfast?" Hitomi asked, coming in.
Van groggily nodded and shuffled into the bathroom to clean up.
Daleila watched him go and made a face. "You could still back out you know," she told her friend. "He's only been here for days and he's already turning into an 'earth' kind of guy."
Hitomi shrugged. "Hey, at least I know what I'm getting into."
"Okay, chiquita, I have to go to work. I have a practice session with Sakura and her little friends. They are just the cutest little ten-year-olds, and they learn fast. Meanwhile, you better talk to what's-his-name about your little situation."
"'Kay. I'll see you later," Hitomi called as she served up a plate of scrambled eggs and toast.
"Where's she going?" Van asked, as he watched Daleila close the door behind her.
"She's going to teach an archery class. She only does that for three days, once a month. It's her steady job between her photography gigs—er, jobs," Hitomi corrected herself.
"Oh, well," Van said leaning on the counter towards her, with a mischievous look on his face. "I guess that leaves just you and me."
Hitomi smiled and moved towards him, bringing her face inches from his. "Is that so?"
He leaned in, gently kissing her lips.
"Sit down, Van. We have to talk."
TBC…
AH! Van proposed! But what'll happen now? Will Van be okay with the idea of a wedding in Las Vegas? (I don't see why he would, though, considering he doesn't know about it…) Make sure to find out in the next episode of….::theme from "Passions"::
"Awakening from the Vision of Escaflowne"!
B/N: Confusing? Well, if you find yourself in this situation, feel free to email me and I'll be glad to explain it all to you…okay, on to the big problem…I'm stuck! And I'm out of coffee! NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The world will end!!!!!!! Grrr…roughly translated, this means: don't expect anything from me anytime soon. So feel free to wander about FFN. Check out Raymei Klisea or FierySable…Oh, and in response to the people who have asked me…sorry, no Dillandou in this fic…
::dodges flames and flying projectiles:: HEY!!! I don't appreciate that! I LOVE Dilly-sama! Okay?…Okay?!! alright, now I must return to the burden that must be carried by all those in high school: homework made harder by procrastination…ah, wonderful…^_~
--Youjibaracuda
youjibaracuda@hotmail.com