Title: Intruder Alert
Author: Haze
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne so don't sue me…
Chapter Dedication: esca chick, Rina, MoonlightSmurfChild, anime_luver, Candyfloss, Marikalay, Divine Discontent, Kat-Tastrophe, SabrinaYutsuki, jess131346, pcy-623, dani65 , Moonbeam020290, dillys gurl, Princess Neptune
Chapter 2: Brush-offs
"Oh yeah?" A guy raised a brow as he stopped eating and looked at his friend.
"U-huh. She was really so stupid to actually bump into Albatou and even glare up at him."
"Yeah. Too bad she's stupid enough to do that. She's actually quiet an attractive little chick."
"I agree. But then, she'd be in a lot of trouble. Sure, Albatou is changed but she'd be in trouble with Albatou's massive girl admirers."
The guys continued the talk about a certain girl who bumped into a certain Albatou. On the other hand, the girls were just doing the same.
"What a prick. She actually had the guts to glare at Dilandau. Argh. The nerve!" A girl hissed.
"I know. How I want to get back on her."
"Count me in. She's even a newbie and she's already being such a pain."
"More like being ignorant as to what position she's in as a newbie and what position she's now in as an outcast."
"Yeah. And she thinks she's cool coz she's from abroad? Who the hell does she think she is?"
Celena raised a brow at what she had been hearing since classes stopped. It was everywhere. In the classroom, the hallways, and even in the cafeteria. She wondered who this newbie is to make it this big in just a day. Surely the new one did something outrageous or out of the rule.
Student rule are generally around someone popular. It couldn't be her crush. No way. He's helpful. It couldn't be her because she didn't know anything on what's going on. It couldn't be--- wait a minute. Maybe it was ---
The gossips were hushed down and looks were directed to Celena as she entered the cafeteria. Students began to smile at her almost reverently. Others gave her an admiring look. Others waved at her to their seats. And so on as the normal before the usual chatter and noise resumed.
Her attractive blue eyes began searching for a certain someone and just as she was walking towards a particular group, the cafeteria hushed once again. Curiosity getting the better of her, she looked back and saw one stunning girl walk in, looking very upset.
Celena looked around and noticed that looks were still directed on the newcomer while the hushed talks went on.
Bingo. The newbie who managed to win the attention of almost everyone on the first day of school finally showed herself to her.
Hitomi was used to people talking about her and looking at her but certainly not this way. She really wished she was back in America. At least she wouldn't have to experience all this embarrassment.
Students were actually whispering while looking at her. And others were purely glaring at her. There were also some guys who were raising a brow at her.
All of this was driving her mad by the moment. She sure as hell could snap when she's mad. And right now, she might just mock or insult someone who'd dare upset her even more.
Good-looking boys continued their lively talks even when a girl with beautiful blue eyes entered the room and headed towards them.
But when the girl turned back and stood near the middle of the cafeteria, some of them were puzzled.
"What's up with Celena?" One of them asked.
"What do you mean, Gatti?"
"Just look at her, Dalet. She's just standing there."
They looked at Celena as she eyed someone.
"Looking at some girl," Gatti finished.
"Not some girl. One gorgeous new girl," Viole, another one of the good-looking boys, said.
Ruby eyes stared at the object of their conversation and noted that she looked familiar. Maybe from up close, he could remember her. But before he could recall who this was, a dare had risen between his friends.
"Hey, Miguel, since you're so good with girls, why don't you try on this one?" Guimel challenged.
"I don't think it's nice, guys."
"Aw come on, Chesta. It's not like you're the one dared here."
"I'm going. Watch me," Miguel announced as he got up.
"Better yet, we could go with you and see," the red-eyed boy spoke, eyes still on the girl. "Unless of course you don't want us."
"Of course not, Dilandau."
Celena was puzzled when her friends invited her to come with them to the girl who she was eyeing moments ago.
'Maybe they know her?' She asked herself silently. "What's going on?" She asked Chesta, who was looking rather worried.
"The guys just dared Miguel to try his good skills with girls," he answered rather absently.
"Why do you look so worried? Miguel never had any girl put her down."
"She looks different, Celena."
"Well, we'll see that soon enough," Viole interrupted, smiling all the way.
Hitomi sat there trying to control her rising temper. She really hated it here. Her boyfriend and friends are not around. To make it worse, people are making fun of her. How she wished she could just fly back to America in the next minute. No, more like the next second.
She was just so sure that if her brother is somewhere in the cafeteria, he was laughing his head off at what's happening to her. After all, didn't he openly tell her most of the time that he wished someone would teach her a thing or two about how it is being played or cast aside by people from the upper class of the school society?
"Hey."
She looked up and saw a good-looking boy standing by her table. She raised a brow when she saw a couple more boys near him with smiles on their faces. She didn't like this. She perfectly knew what they were up to. Hadn't she been one of those people who dared others into this?
But something caught her eye. More like someone. And from that alone, she was pretty sure she would do something bad if she didn't leave.
"Hi, pretty. I'm Lavariel Miguel. And you---"
"Are not my type," Hitomi interrupted with a bored expression on her face before standing up and stalking out of the cafeteria.
At first, shock was what the others had on their faces until Celena broke out laughing.
"Oh that was good!" She exclaimed while laughing. "I like her spirit!"
Miguel frowned. "What was her problem?"
"You, obviously." Dalet smirked. "Why would she walk out on you?"
"I think she's in the bad mood and we happened to make it worse," Chesta said thoughtfully.
"What makes you say that?" Viole asked.
"She looked past Miguel before he introduced himself."
"Now that you mentioned it, I think she did look at us," Guimel remarked.
"Well, whatever happened," Celena interrupted. "I'm going to find her. So see you all later."
Celena bounded off without another word. They were left to talk about what had just happened. But as they walked back to their table, Gatti noticed that someone was just plain quiet.
"A problem?" He asked.
Red eyes looked at him. "Just a thought."
"On the girl?"
"On the girl." Dilandau replied, a smirk forming back on his handsome face.
Hitomi walked off angrily towards the school gate. After the cafeteria encounter, she almost kicked herself for not going to the red-eyed boy and slapping him. He had been the reason why she left. She could've just stayed there and finish her food after she told off the Lavariel guy.
'I was so stupid! Why didn't I just kill him that moment?! It's all his fault that this blasted school's student population is talking negatively of me,' she fumed. 'If only I didn't make that exit. If only I hadn't thought of what I'd do with him if I stayed.'
Celena saw her and purposely bumped into her just to make an acquaintance. She was positive that she wasn't seen by this honey brown-haired girl with the others back at the cafeteria.
"I'm sorry," Celena muttered after she bumped into Hitomi.
Hitomi looked at her. "It's alright." She then started to walk away.
"Wait," Celena called, catching up with Hitomi.
"What do you want?" Hitomi asked, looking suspiciously at her.
"Just want to know who you are."
"Oh, want to know who people are making fun of now?"
Celena shook her head. "I just want us to be friends."
"I suppose you know of what happened this lunch time. Is this some sort of game for you?"
"No. I want to be friends for that reason alone. Just being friends."
Hitomi stopped walking. She knew what popular people usually do in America. And looking at this girl, Hitomi could tell that she was popular. But then, this is Japan. And the offer was tempting in a place where she felt alone. Just maybe she could be friends with this blue-eyed girl. But there still are possibilities that she'd be made fun off. She knew it pretty well. Popular people---
"No. I'm not going to make fun or play with you," Celena interrupted, knowing what Hitomi might be thinking.
Hitomi looked at her warily for a while until a honking was heard. She looked a few steps ahead of them and saw the limo that was to fetch her. Making a quick decision and hoping she wouldn't regret it, she turned to the blue-eyed girl.
"I'm Hitomi Kanzaki."
Celena smiled, holding out her hand. "I'm Albatou. Albatou Celena."
"Albatou?" She asked, shaking Celena's hand. "Your name is Albatou?"
Celena laughed. "No. That's my surname. But here in Japan, we introduce ourselves with our surnames first. So my name is Celena."
"Oh. Just for confirmation, my name is---"
"Hitomi~" Hiko's voice flitted through. "Come on~"
Hitomi looked at Celena who in turn shook her head. "No, go ahead. I'll just see you around."
"Okay, then. Bye."
Hitomi left and entered the limo which drove off seconds later. Celena smiled. She was going to see what Hitomi was and hopefully, she'd enjoy what she is.
"Celena, why are you standing there?" A male voice traveled to her ears.
She spun around and smiled sweetly. "Van!"
Van smiled, sensual lips curving cutely. "Hey, how come you're not around your group?"
"Just deciding that it's time to make it small," she said, hooking an arm on Van's.
"Small?"
"You know. Out of the usual jumble of being in a large crowd."
"Tired of popularity?"
"Not really. Or maybe yeah."
Van laughed. "Since I don't see your friends around, I assume you're going to the guys?"
"No. I think I'm going home. Viole is probably hanging with his girlfriend," Celena winked. "You know who. And the rest of the guys are probably still in soccer practice or something."
"In that case, you want a ride?"
Celena smiled at Van brightly. "With all my heart."
"Hitomi~" Hiko's voice bellowed from behind the door. "Answer the freaking phone!"
When the phone in Hitomi's room continued ringing, Hiko entered without permission. So what if Hitomi would yell at him for trespassing? The phone was as irritating as the crowd Hitomi hung around with in America. Bunch of stuck-up, stuffy whatevers!
Hitomi wasn't in her room.
'She must have gone out somewhere. Or maybe she got sucked into a dimension or something.' Hiko thought.
"Hello?"
"Uh, hi. Can I talk to Hitomi?"
"Who's this?"
"Millerna and Yukari."
"Oh. Three way overseas call," Hiko mumbled, rolling his eyes.
Girls. The things they just love to do were just plain typical… girly.
"She's not in here."
"Where is she?" Yukari asked impatiently.
Hiko was tempted to say *How should I know* but Hitomi would skin him alive if he did. "I'll look for her and tell her that you two called."
"Alright. Just tell her to call us," Millerna requested or rather imposed like a princess.
"Of course," Hiko replied, itching to end the call.
Hitomi walked towards the school gate, thinking of the conversation with Millerna and Yukari the previous night.
Everything was okay except for some changes like some new girl making a transition from a newbie into a popular one and is most likely going to be one of them. There's also the part where girls from other schools are lingering somewhere near Allen.
Allen.
How long will it take for her to see him again? When will she feel so occupied with someone again? When will she---
"Hey! Watch it!" Hitomi and a boy hissed at the same time.
Both their eyes narrowed at each other.
'Oh damn! Of all the people to bump into!' Hitomi's mind mumbled. 'It's that conceited Lavariel guy!'
'Oh damn! Of all the people to bump into!' Miguel's mind muttered. 'It's that stuck-up nameless girl!'
Glaring at each other, they stalked off to opposite directions, both sharing the feeling that their morning had just been ruined.
'Damn! My morning had just been ruined more than ever possible. And to think, the first subject in my schedule copy is science! Argh! Could this day get any worse?!'
Hitomi stomped on angrily for her science class. But before she could enter it, a thought crossed her mind. What if she skipped science even just for now? She did hate the subject anyway.
She had managed to be out of science the previous day because of the long orientation Sir Balgus gave her. But now, she'd have to face it. She stood there for ten minutes before finally deciding to enter the classroom. But she soon realized that it was a wrong move. Why?
"You're late, Miss?" A deep voice flitted to her as she entered and sat at the back of the class.
Hitomi diverted her eyes to the teacher, imaging that he'd be looking like her fat, grumpy geezer of a science teacher back in America. But to her surprise, he was far from that.
"Miss?"
"Uh, Ka-kanzaki," she stuttered.
Brownish red eyes stared back at her. "Stating the obvious, Miss Kanzaki, you are late."
Hitomi frowned. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be late."
"I'm sure," he said, looking slightly amused. "But next time, I expect that you would not be late again."
'You can count on that.' Hitomi thought, smiling inwardly as she looked at her teacher who was rather quite handsome.
Lunch time came and people were still onto Hitomi especially the girls. But like she cared. She was too busy thinking about her first subject teacher. Her science teacher.
Pale blue hair spiked up and matched with unusual brownish red eyes. How dreamy! She'd have to tell her friends about him. Sure it would be in the middle of the night in America or something, but she was just too excited.
Heading for the rooftop, she brought out her cellphone and called her friends, not caring if her battery is just about to run out from not charging the cellphone. Upon the sleepy voices of Millerna and Yukari, she promptly began her news.
"You've got to hear this!" Hitomi exclaimed happily, ignoring the stares she got while she walked towards the rooftop with her cellphone glued to her ears.
"Hitomi, it's late," Millerna complained.
"Yeah. Couldn't it wait?" Yukari asked, yawning.
"Do you think I'd call at this hour if this isn't important?" Hitomi asked, irritated at her friends.
"Alright. What is it?" Yukari and Millerna chorused sleepily.
"My science teacher! He's absolutely gorgeous!"
"Oh?"
"Yes! You should see him, Millerna. He's cool!"
"Like how?"
"Yukari, he's got spiked up light blue hair."
"Oh?"
"Yes! I'm sure when you see him, you'll melt, Millerna. He's got cute brownish red eyes!"
"You must have been eyeing him pretty well," Yukari commented, suddenly wide awake. "What's his name?"
"Folken Lacour de Fanel. Cool right? Even from the name."
"Yeah!" Millerna interjected, now also wide awake.
"Gosh! I wish I could be there," Yukari declared wishfully.
Hitomi laughed, opening the rooftop's door. "Be here, and I'm sure you'll be after him."
"You bet!" Yukari affirmed. "And I'm sure Millerna would be on to him, too."
"Positively! Handsome people are just so hard to resist!"
They all laughed.
"I know," Hitomi giggled, recalling why she had her crush on Allen long before.
A beep was heard.
"Hitomi, I think your battery is running out."
"Yeah, I think so, Yukari. Maybe I'll just call you two later. Right now, I'm going to think of the cute guy I spotted today."
"Could you spot us a couple of cute guys?" Millerna asked.
"Sure. No problem. I'm sure I'd spot one gorgeous guy soon."
With their final giggles about their guy conversation, Hitomi ended the call and leaned on the rooftop door, shutting it a bit loudly.
Sighing and smiling to herself, she pocketed her cellphone and stared directly in front of her.
"It's about time you notice us, girl."
Hitomi raised a brow. "It's you again!"
"You mean, it's us, again."
"What are you doing here, Lavariel?!"
"This is our territory!" Miguel snapped. "And you've just intruded!"
"Oh? Be for real. You don't own the school."
A couple more insults were exchanged between Miguel and Hitomi. The rest were just snickering in the background, amused that Miguel found a girl who could insult him non-stop.
"You are so damn conceited!" Hitomi hissed.
"Look who's talking! Aren't you too confident to march were you shouldn't go?!" Miguel shot back.
"What is going on?"
Hitomi spun around and stared at familiar red eyes.
Kissable lips curved upwards and red eyes sparkled amusedly. "What have we got here? Oh, the fiery girl decided to pay our Miguel a little visit."
"No way, Dilandau," Miguel denied.
Dilandau smirked. "Oh yeah. I remember quite well that she told you that you're not her type."
"Damn straight I did!" Hitomi hissed, trying to control the urge to hurt this red-eyed guy.
"So, are you here to choose among the others?" Miguel asked Hitomi crossly. "We happen to hear you saying something about spotting one gorgeous guy soon."
Hitomi's eyes narrowed. "Listening on somebody else's conversation is very, very rude. But then, what could I expect from one offensive guy like you?"
Before Miguel could retort, Hitomi brushed passed Dilandau, deciding that she'd deal with this red-eyed guy some other time.
Dilandau's amused tone flitted just after Hitomi left. "I never thought this day could be amusing."
Gatti looked at Dilandau and instantly recalled that Dilandau had mentioned that he had a thought on the girl. 'What could it be?' Gatti's mind asked.
"Damn them all to hell!" Hitomi murmured as she angrily walked towards her classroom and just skip lunch.
Students stared at her as she murmured angrily to herself. On the way to her classroom, she bumped into her brother, Hiko, who was her junior by a year.
"Hey, Tomi!" Hiko mumbled as Hitomi continued to walk away. "Wait up! What's wrong?"
"Don't bother me!" Hitomi snapped.
Hiko stopped walking and watched as his sister stalked off while people stared at her. He wondered what was wrong with her. And somehow, he felt sorry that Hitomi couldn't seem to enjoy staying here.
Maybe it was a bad idea to separate her from her friends AND her boyfriend. Maybe he could tell their parents to send Hitomi back to America and just stay at their relatives' place. Maybe---
"Step out!"
Hiko spun around and stared at the annoyed eyes of a good-looking boy. He looked beyond the annoyed boy and saw a couple of his friends, all good-looking. But a specific boy caught his eyes.
The boy had silver hair and red eyes. Just perfectly gorgeous.
'That's it! Maybe I could find Tomi a new boyfriend!' Hiko's mind raced for plans. And without thinking, he walked passed the annoyed boy and towards the other boy.
"Uh, excuse me," Hiko began.
All the boys looked at him.
"Hey!" The annoyed boy said in an irritated manner. "Stop delaying us."
"Miguel, you can't go on snapping at people because you got snapped at," a blond boy said.
"Chesta is right, Miguel." The red-eyed boy smirked and looked at Hiko. "Your eyes look familiar. What's your name?"
"Uh, Hiko. Hiko Kanzaki."
"What do you want?"
"I was wondering if you'd, uh," Hiko paused, suddenly realizing that it would be silly to ask a complete stranger to distract her sister from her moody disposition.
"Well?"
Hiko's mind debated. To go on or just stop all the nonsense?
~tbc~
Author's Note: That's the second chapter. It's a bit weird in my opinion but I think that's about what I can come up with as of the moment. I know there are a lot of parts here which could arouse negative comments but I didn't want to slack because pretty soon, the enthusiasm I have for the story might leave. So please, whatever negativity this chapter provoked, do tell me and I'll try my best to improve.
I reduced Dilandau's group so as not to have too many people crowding the fic. Besides, I couldn't think of names so I just retained the slayers who were identified. The rest of the characters have had alterations if you'd all noticed. So I once more remind that this is an AU fic. I don't mean any damage but I just want to occupy people the best I can.
In this chapter, there had been a lot of brush-offs between different characters like Hiko and Dilandau, Celena and Hitomi, Folken and Hitomi, and all those. But the brush-off on Dilandau and Hitomi wasn't that long and not as frequent as with Miguel and Hitomi. But I have a reason. No, Miguel is not going to be Dilandau's competition on Hitomi. It's for another reason.
Anyhow, I hope you all would at least find even a morsel of enjoyment in this one. I'm a bit of in a hurry so I'm ending the rant. Thank you all for the support especially the reviewers. This one is for you, people. As usual, please tell me what you think. I just SO love reviews. ^^
