AN: Well, I've got another chapter up. Sorry if I took too long. Hold your rotten cabbages! I apologize! *peeks out from behind computer chair.* I tried to get it out as quick as I could but.... well that's my life. Hopefully I won't have 2 work tomorrow and after I bring my poor kitty to the vet to get her wounds fixed, I'll be able to write some more. Til then, enjoy!
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Chapter 2
The sun rose early the next morning causing Allen to squint as it reached through Hitomi's parted curtains. He dreaded what awaited him when he decided to get up from the comfort of Hitomi's couch. The previous night's activities had brought worry to his mind.
Van had come out of Hitomi's room without so much as uttering a word to the knight. An unreadable expression plastered across his face as usual. Things appeared to be the same as before he had even entered the room. Allen had watched the young king slip outside to stand on Hitomi's balcony.
"Good morning Allen."
Allen looked up to see Hitomi's cheery face looking at him. Another fake cover up so that people would see that everything was fine and not know what she was feeling inside. Her eyes slowly crossed the room in search of something he knew was Van.
"I'm guessing the balcony. He's been sitting out there all night. He didn't tell you did he?" Allen asked. She narrowed her eyes and looked toward the sliding glass doors that lead outside.
"Tell me what Allen? There's nothing to tell." She stated. Allen shook his head in disapproval and rose to his feet.
"Would you like me to speak with Van for you Hitomi?" He asked.
"No Allen, he's a big boy now. I think he can figure things out on his own. I don't want to talk about this right now. I've got calls to make if we ever want to get a start on finding Escaflowne." She said.
"What happens after we find Escaflowne? What will you do then Hitomi?" He asked. She looked at him quizzically then pressed her lips together in thought.
"Keep going." She said.
"It must be hard to love someone yet, hate them at the same time." He said.
"I don't hate Van, Allen. I wasn't the one who wanted it this way. My heart is not a...a game to be played with as he sees fit." She cried.
"Is that what you believe he's doing? Playing with your love? He hasn't told you then and I feel truly sorry for that." He stated.
"Yeah well, what else is new? This is Van after all." She said.
"I can assure you Hitomi, that he will tell you."
"Don't count on it. Besides, by the time he finally decides to tell me, it may be too late. Time doesn't wait forever." She said, walking into her bathroom. Allen quickly made his way to the balcony where the stubborn king had been sitting.
"I can't believe you didn't tell her! " Allen hissed, closing the door behind him.
"Don't start with me Allen. I'm not nearly in the mood." Van replied.
"I don't care where your mood is Van. She deserves to know the truth. Do you seriously want her to think that you're playing games with her for the rest of her life?" Allen asked. Van narrowed his eyes and looked at him with a threatening glare.
"Let it go Allen. She wouldn't understand now. She doesn't want to..."
"Listen to yourself Van! How do you know what she feels? Have you asked her? You obviously haven't told her the reasons behind your disgraceful behavior toward her. What do you expect her to think?"
"I can't tell her that now! She'd just see it as an excuse and she wouldn't understand! She's better off not knowing! Just let it be!" Van yelled.
"You'll regret that in the end Van. You know she still..."
"NO! Don't you say that! I..."
A ringing noise from inside caused Van to stop mid sentence and look through the doors. They walked in slowly and looked around the room trying to find the disturbance and be rid of it.
Hi, this is Hitomi Kanzaki. I'm not in right now so leave a message and I'll call you when I'm in.
"Hitomi? Come on Hitomi I know you're home! Pick up the phone! Hitomi!"
Van and Allen stared at the small black box that had started talking suddenly. They were about to do something to it when Hitomi flung the door open and charged across the room to grab the phone. She nearly collided with Allen on her pursuit. The knight stepped back and grabbed Van just as Hitomi slid across the floor. She reached out to grab the small shelf in a desperate attempt to save her from falling on her face.
"Hitomi! I'm counting to five and you'd better pick up the phone! It's too early for you to be gone! I'm leaving soon come on! One...."
Hitomi fumbled with the phone in her hand. Trying to find the talk button on the black cordless phone was a chore when you were in a rush. Van and Allen watch in bewilderment as she nearly dropped the phone before finding the right button.
"Two...five..."
"Yukari! Sorry! I was in the bathroom! Um...sorry, I don't think you needed to hear that." Hitomi said as she held the phone to her ear. She walked causally passed the two shocked men and plopped down on the couch.
"What...was that?" Van asked.
"I don't want to know." Allen replied.
Hitomi had engrossed herself in a light conversation with Yukari about her trip to see Amano. She was going to be leaving soon and she wanted to know Hitomi's opinion on what she should where when she leaves. A sudden idea sprung in Hitomi's head and she decided to ask someone she knew she could trust.
"Yukari, I have a question. Do you know what the number was to the tech center down town? The one that we went to for our project?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Just wondering. There was a guy there that I met awhile back and I wanted to see if he still worked there."
"My Hitomi...man hunting?!? Wow!"
"Funny Yukari. I do have a life you know."
"Sure Hitomi."
After she had retrieved the number she needed and ended her conversation with Yukari, she quickly dialed the new number. Looking up at the two men that now sat in front of her she grinned and waited for someone to answer the phone.
"Hi, can I speak with Kai please?"
"Speaking."
"Kai, it's Hitomi. I need your help and Paige's."
"Speak no more. Not safe to mention that here. Phones may be tapped. I'll call your cell."
"Ok, thanks."
"No problem."
When Hitomi turned the phone off, she noticed the looks she was getting from Van and Allen.
"What? Oh sorry! That was my phone. Yukari's really impatient sometimes and I think I've got some help." She explained.
"Help for what?" Allen asked.
"For finding Escaflowne. We don't have anytime to waste and I don't think those people have good intentions." She replied.
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"What is that thing?"
"Some kind of giant mecha. I've never seen anything quite like this model. I've seen different models before but, this is the most interesting yet. I think this calls for some experimentation. Josha get someone in there and see if they can open it up."
"Yes sir."
Both men watched from a control tower as a man attempted to open Escaflowne. Nothing happened at first. The man walked around trying to find a switch or something. Mistaking the energist as a ornament, the man reached out to touch it. He was thrown back against a wall on the other side of the room and rendered unconscious.
"Interesting."
"What the hell was that?" Josha asked, wide eyed.
"A start. We've got work to do."
"What are we going to do?"
"This certain mecha is special Josha. Especially that stone. We need to....operate."
"Operate? You can't be serious!"
"Very. I want to know what makes it tick."
Josha shook his head and followed the man down the stairs and into the giant laboratory.
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"What's wrong Van?" Allen asked when he saw Van jump slightly.
"Nothing, I just felt a sharp pain in my chest but, it's gone now. Nothing to worry about." Van replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, fine, never better." He assured him. His mind was on other things and at the moment he really didn't care if they found Escaflowne. His mind settled on Hitomi. She had barely said two words to him all morning and he wished for courage to confront her about it.
*She probably hates me now and she'd never understand.* He thought as he looked toward the bedroom door where Hitomi had go to change.
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TBC...
AN: Nah, nah! What am I going to do? I don't know, you don't know. Nobody knows! *grins evilly* K so, I do know! You have to review to find out more! Ha ha! Thanx for your reviews so far! They mean a lot to me! I'll try to get the next chapter out ASAP but, I can't promise anything. Going 2 the fair tomorrow, again. Gotta love dinky fairs with tilt-o-whirl's in them! Spin, spin! L8er!
