Hold on to your chairs! You are SO gonna like this chapter!

With another Saturday another chance for Escaflowne High basketball team to prove just how good they are. A team from Freid had arrived early in the morning and was currently in the hotel resting. The principal agreed with their coach they could train in the gym if they want but he assured him his boys were ready.

"Chid, do you want to play today or sit on the bench?" coach approached the blonde boy on the hallway "No one will held it against you if you sit this one out. In fact, it would make sense."

"Thank you sir." Chid answered politely "And I think it would be better for everyone if you only put me on the field if there is no other alternative."

"Alright. I'll inform the team of your decision." The older man said and walked away.

Chid sighed and leaned on the cold wall. And that is how Iris found him. She was on her way to the cafeteria for lunch and humming to herself when she turned around the corner and almost bumped into him.

"Are you sick?" she asked concerned.

Blue eyes looked at her and Chid shook his head. He sighed and stood up strait "I just agreed with the coach to miss today's game." He said calmly but Iris knew better. She could see he was feeling torn.

"Um, if you don't mind me asking, but why?" she was confused.

Chid looked at the girl next to him and laughed "Because we play against 'The Monks' from Freid."

To anyone else that answer would be enough but Iris was still confused "So?"

"You don't know, do you?" Chid asked eyeing her.

"If I knew everything I would grow old too soon."

Chid started to walk and Iris followed, he was silent for a minute or so until he started to explain "I'm from Freid and playing against my…" he wondered of for a moment before saying strait out "I am the son of duke Mahad Freid."

"You are what?!" Iris stopped and looked at him seriously, her eyes wide and mouth open in shock.

Blonde boy just chuckled "I would guess that's the last thing you expected."

"You guessed correctly." Iris made him smile again but his face became serious when she asked "What do you think the team's reaction would be?"

"That's what I was talking about when you found me. The coach assured me they would understand but… what if they think I'm betraying the team and the school? What if they lose because I didn't play?"

"First of all I doubt they would lose just because you didn't play. I mean, no offence, but you don't play that good that they can't play without you." Iris said seriously and Chid actually blushed at her strait out words "Second of all, one side has to lose. So if you play and Escaflowne High wins you would feel lousy for helping to defeat the team from your homeland. But if 'The Dragons' lose they could claim that you intentionally didn't give your best."

"Now I understand why everyone respects you so much." He said and caused a deep red blush on Iris' cheeks which made him laugh "Students like to talk and you have the earned yourself a title of a good listener and helper. Someone who always finds the time to help others. So you shouldn't blush, it's not embarrassing to do good."

"Thank you Chid." She smiled.

"Thank you too Iris." He said back smiling.

When the players of Fortona High came out on the field some of the students looked at them in awe. They were all the same; dressed in the red and black colors of the school and the kingdom. But what left many speechless was they all hade same hair, or rather they had absolutely no hair at all.

But 'The Monks' weren't such an obstacle for the team of Escaflowne High. They were losing from the first minute till the bell signaled the end of the game. It was the easiest game so far. But the team wasn't gloating cause of it. Although they would celebrate quite loudly it later. They approached the opponent players and wished them luck in the next games.

Merle grabbed Iris arm and pulled her down the bleachers and out of the gym before the poor girl managed to blink. It was time for a party in the local café-bar they visited on regular basis. But as soon as they stepped outside on the parking lot Iris noticed something black and small lying on the concrete.

She would just ignore it if it hadn't meowed.

Once she realized it was a cat she freed herself from her friends strong grasp and headed towards the animal that tried to stand up but only fell back down. Merle groaned seeing Iris was ignoring her now.

"Come on! If we get there too late there will be no free seats!" she called but her friend didn't respond, she just kneeled and picked up the cat that was obviously in pain. The prove of it was the bleeding wound on it's back left leg.

The red blood fast stained Iris' light greed shirt and she looked around for a way to help the animal. And the help came in a form of the black-haired boy that rushed on her side before pulling her in the car. All that mattered now was to get the black furred cat to the vet's office as fast as possible.

"Thanks Van." Iris whispered and carefully petted the meowing cat in her arms. She lifted the bottom hem of her favorite shirt so the cat was safely wrapped.

"No need to thank me. I never could manage to see a cat in pain. It's a weakness." Van smiled.

Few times Van went over the speed limit so they were at the animal clinic in less then ten minutes. The nurse at the reception right away called the vet who took over the injured cat. Van and Iris sat down to wait for the information when the nurse approached them "Who is the owner of the cat?"

"Um… I don't think it has one." Iris answered "It was lying on the school parking lot."

"Oh, you see I'm asking cause of the bill-"

"I'll pay the bill." Van interrupted her and surprised his roommate.

"But you are not the owner." The nurse said.

Van just shrugged "I don't think it has an owner so I'll take her home. My mom will love it."

"That's nice of you." The vet walked to the waiting room where they were "So I guess you should know that the cat is female and currently sleeping. I had to put her under anesthesia to sew the cut. It was clean as it was made with a knife."

"Someone intentionally cut her leg?" Iris asked shocked "Who would do such a thing?"

But no one answered, a question like that didn't have the right answer.

"You are driving in the wrong way." Iris pointed out the obvious after several minutes of Van driving away from the school and towards the center of the city.

"I thought we could celebrate." Was the answer she got and right away groaned.

"But the celebration if in the other way." She repeated herself but Van just smiled and continued to drive where he planed.

Their first stop was in front of a small store. It surprised iris when Van told her to wait in the car while he went to get something. And was even more surprised when he sat back on the drivers seat and handed her the bag. Looking in she noticed it contained something made out of dark green material. Taking it out Iris was pleasantly surprised. It was a new shirt.

Knowing it would be useless to tell Van she couldn't change in front of him cause he would mention that time when he saw her naked Iris took of the bloodstained one and fast put on the brand new one. It fitted perfectly with her eyes, that is it would fit perfectly if she didn't had her lenses.

"Now we can go and celebrate." Van said and continued to drive. Still in the wrong direction.

Iris Yuri was speechless, something that didn't happened very often. But the beautiful restaurant Van lean her to could only cause that kind of reaction. Even the tablecloths looked expensive so she guessed the food must be priceless. But Van didn't seem to mind. In fact he had casually greeted the waiter who smiled back and placed them to a far most table and lightened a candle even though it was sunny outside.

"I come here a lot." He said like it was a no big deal.

"I figured you do." She said back and looked around. The walls were in warm red color and the floor was covered with wood. Not many people were inside at them moment but those who were looked more in place then she did dressed in blue jeans and dark green long sleeved shirt.

"My mom adores this place, she claims they have the best wild duck on Gaea." Van said opening the menu.

"Van why are we here?" Iris asked strait out.

He lifted those sienna eyes towards her and made her heart skip a beat before answering "Our team won so we came to celebrate."

"But why here?" she asked more seriously right now "Why aren't we with the others?"

"Do you want to celebrate with the others?" Van asked and Iris took a moment to answer; the strange sound of his voice as he asked that question made her feel like she hurt him.

"They are our friends and frankly… I feel kind of awkward with you in an expensive restaurant." She answered honestly.

"Why? It's not like we are on a date." His words didn't helped a bit.

"I know that and you know that but the guy that is looking our way from the sidewalk might think otherwise."

"What guy?" Van turned around but only saw the man walking off.

"I have a feeling something bad would happen." Iris muttered.

Van smiled sweetly and whispered for only her to hear "Don't worry. I'll look out after you. Kind of like your very own guardian angel."

A red blush that spread on Iris' cheeks made him smile laugh. Even more when she, in embarrassment, hid her face behind the menu card. It was the most adorable thing he ever saw.

"Alright, let's eat." He said to end the little game.

The sun had already set when they were driving back to the boarding school and Iris was with all might trying not to fall asleep. She was drained out and couldn't wait to lye down on her soft bed and sleep the whole night through.

She closed her eyes and dozed off when the sudden sound coming from Van startled her so she jumped in the seat and groaned. Her black-haired driver somehow took the noisy device from his pocket and handed it to her "Could you please answer. I don't like to talk and drive. My mom threatened to kill me."

But after iris took his cell phone and read the name on the screen she handed it back to him "Angry mother isn't the worst thing that could happen to you."

Van raised an eyebrow at her and took the still ringing phone back and flipped it open. On his face was visible he didn't know who was calling until he heard the voice. Iris didn't know exactly what they were talking about but had a pretty good guess.

"And what the hell was I supposed to do? Leave the cat to bleed to death?" he asked angry "Yes, I know someone else could have drive her but I was first one there."

Iris lowered her head. She felt guilty now for being the reason van argued with Nina. They were together for a whole year or so and now she was on the path to ruin everything between them.

"The animals aren't the only thing replaceable." Van strictly said "Girlfriends are too!" he finished the conversation and closed the cell phone angry.

"I'm sorry." Iris whispered sadly.

"It's not your fault." Van said back seriously.

"They why do I feel so lousy?"

"Because you have a kind heart."

"A kind heart just caused the break up between you and Nina."

"She caused it; she and her dumb jealousy." Van looked at his roommate's sad face "But to be honest… I don't care anymore."

"About what?"

"About Nina."