Disclaimer: I don't Escaflowne. If I did, things would've been different. And I would have a whole helluva lot more money, and I'd be a much happier person.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Ah, so another chapter. Four months after Hitomi's parents have died. How sad, we should all feel sorry for her. But, what is this? Good news? Two good news'? Rejoice! Hitomi's life is still good!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Three: Two Doses of Good News THREE WEEKS LATER"Thank you Miss Kanzaki, for all your time and effort here today," the man nodded his approval at Yukari, who sat silently in the corner, smiling.
"It's no trouble at all," Hitomi said respectfully.
"This has already been proofread? Or are you just a very good writer?"
"It's a bit of both," Hitomi conceded. "I wrote it, and Miss Amano proofread it for grammatical errors only. Is it acceptable for publishing?"
"It's more than acceptable," the man said, scratching the back of his head, shaking his dark gray hair.
"Thank you Mr. Akane," Hitomi grinned, feeling her pride loosen the nervous knots in her stomach. She stole a glance at Yukari. Yukari looked relieved as well.
Mr. Akane* flipped the papers of the thick stack that was Hitomi's story. "I'll be more than happy to publish it. I'm glad I made Yukari your supervisor; she's done a good job guiding you through this process.
"Oh, no Mr. Akane!" Yukari stretched her hand out and lightly touched the older man's shoulder. "I didn't guide Miss Kanzaki through anything! She's been doing this all on her own; I only checked her grammar and spelling." Yukari paused and smirked, "Not that Miss Kanzaki ever needed much help with those."
"Ah-ah…" Hitomi shook a finger at her best friend, "Who was it that needed help with simple math?" Yukari blushed, pulling back into her chair, trying to disappear.
Mr. Akane laughed heartily. After he managed to catch his breath, he smiled and said, "I can see you are both very good at working together. I'm glad that Mrs. Amano was able to help with the occasional," he paused and grinned at Hitomi who blushed, "Occasional grammar and spelling errors." He stood, and moved Hitomi's manuscript to a desk behind him.
"Is there anything else you need, Mr. Akane?" Hitomi asked, standing and reaching out to shake hands with her and Yukari's superior.
Mr. Akane smiled, and shook Hitomi's hand. "No, that should be all." Hitomi's face fell. "Expect this book to be in stores all across the world in about two months." He grinned.
"Oh!" Hitomi breathed, shocked. She quickly recovered herself, and shook the man's hand with joy. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She grinned.
"You're perfectly welcome, Miss Kanzaki. Are you free tomorrow afternoon? We need to discuss the terms of your contract."
"Mmm," Hitomi nodded, smiling.
"I will see you in here at four thirty." Mr. Akane resumed his seat, and began to sift through other papers.
Hitomi and Yukari bowed out gracefully. They rushed out of his office and into Hitomi's two floors down. As soon as they were in Hitomi's office with the door closed the two girls began to laugh hysterically and cry at the same time. They hugged each other, jumping up and down.
"Hitomi! Hitomi!" Yukari laughed.
"What? What?" Hitomi laughed in reply.
"YOU'RE GETTING PUBLISHED!!!" Yukari yelled, pulling Hitomi into another hug. The two girls began to laugh and cry all over again, falling to the floor grinning.
"Am I interrupting something?" Susumu grinned from the door.
"Susumu!" Yukari jumped up, grinning. "Guess what!" Yukari could barely control her enthusiasm.
"Hitomi's getting her dream published?"
Yukari playfully slapped Amano's shoulder and he play cringed. "How did you know?"
"Well, for one, I knew you both had that meeting with Mr. Akane today. Two, what else could make you both so happy? And, three, I could heard you yell it all the way on the other side of the building!" Amano grinned teasingly.
Hitomi blushed. "I'm sorry Amano, I'm just so happy!!!" She stood, wrapping her arm around Yukari's shoulders.
The two girls grinned shamelessly at each other.
"I'm glad Hitomi," Amano smiled softly, "But…" he leaned down and kissed Yukari's cheek. "But, Yukari and I have something to tell you."
Yukari's face fell. Bad news? Hitomi wondered, panicking. Her face suddenly stern, she took a deep breath and asked, "All right, what is it?"
Yukari grinned, and Hitomi realized the 'bad news' was a joke. "Hitomi?"
"Yes, Yukari?" Hitomi asked, confused.
"I'm pregnant." Yukari smiled, her eyes beaming.
"WHAT?!" Hitomi yelled, surprised.
"Shh!" Amano put a finger to his mouth.
Hitomi took a deep breath, a smiled on her face, "Yukari!"
Yukari grinned, "Are you surprised? Are you okay with this?"
"Yukari!" Hitomi said exasperatedly, "I find out that I'm to be a published author—and an aunt—in a single day! I don't think I could be any happier!"
"Oh, thank you Hitomi!" Yukari wrapped her arms about Hitomi's shoulders. "I was so worried you wouldn't be happy…"
Hitomi smiled into Yukari's shoulder, "If it makes you happy, Yukari, then I am happy."
Yukari pulled away, looking quizzically at Hitomi.
Amano, too, had a confused look on his face. "What do you mean, Hitomi?" He asked.
"You two…" Hitomi began softly, "You two are all I have left, and I love you both so much…"
Yukari's eyes began to tear. She laughed softly, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand, "Looks like those hormones are kicking in!"
"How far along are you?" Hitomi asked, placing her hand on Yukari's stomach. She had not noticed it before, but Yukari had been wearing baggier clothes than usual.
"I'm actually five months along," Yukari laughed.
"And you didn't tell me?!" Hitomi demanded, but her eyes danced playfully.
"Actually," Amano smiled softly, "We weren't sure if the baby was going to make it. Yukari had been told she couldn't carry children. This will probably be our only one."
Yukari nodded her agreement, her hand slipping into Amano's familiarly.
"Oh, Yukari…" Hitomi breathed. "Do you know what it is?"
Yukari shook her head, "No, and we won't till I have the baby. I don't want to know, I want it to be a surprise…" Yukari paused, as if she was not saying something she wanted to.
"What is it Yukari?" Hitomi asked, concerned.
"Hitomi…if…if it's a girl, can we call her Hitomi?"
Hitomi stood shocked. "I…I'd be honored!" Hitomi breathed, pulling the couple into a hug. "I love you both so much…so very, very much…"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Kazuki Akane is the director of the "Escaflowne" series and movie. I felt like putting some little references in the story, just for fun.^^ Are they annoying my readers to death yet? There are more! Mwahaha!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FINAL A/N: You're writing a review now, aren't you? Yes, of course you are, because you love me…*rolls eyes* Thanks to Larania for her review! I give you *hugs!* Don't you just feel loved? Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the review! I hope you enjoyed chapter three!
