AN: Yup, I've got another one. Just to let you know, I'm coming really close to the mushy stuff. Sorry this took long. At least it wasn't as long as my other one. Hehe. Don't mind me. I'm extremely tired and it's only 12:30 am here. Wow, I'm actually wiped. Neways, not 2 keep you waiting enjoy.





Chapter 7

"Will you be ok?" Allen asked, kneeling beside her.

"In a few. Don't worry about me, I'm tough." She smiled. Hitomi came running in the room, stopping to look at Paige on the floor.

"What happened? Is Van ok? Are you ok?" She asked, frantically.

"Go see for yourself. You worry too much Tomi. Stop asking so many questions." Paige muttered. Hitomi shook her head and made her way to Van's side.

"Will...will he be ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, after a little recuperation. Lots of rest. What's our next step Paige? I know you're mind's just ready to move." Kai said.

"We need a decoy. I'm gonna have to email Px again. I'll get him to go to our private set up and we can discuss matters better." Paige explained.

"Do you need any help?" Hitomi asked.

"No, you stay here and keep an eye on him. If anything weird starts happening, give me a shout. Either one of you." Paige said with a smirk.

"That's not funny."

"Sorry. I'm going now." Paige said.

"Are you sure it's safe to touch a computer right now?" Kai asked.

"Oh, yeah. It's over now. You can touch me all you want now."

"That's not funny. That's teasing because you know we have work to do." He scolded. Sonya shook her head and grabbed Allen's arm to leave Hitomi alone with Van.

Hitomi pulled a chair up and sat beside Van taking his hand in hers. She felt so guilty for everything that was happening. Blaming herself for the delay in finding Escaflowne. For them even being there. The pain he had to suffer through. The angry words she had said to him.

"I'm sorry Van. I'm so sorry. Please wake up. Please be ok. None of this would have happened if we had looked sooner. I should have called Paige as soon as we got to my place instead of being angry with you." She whispered. Sleep had claimed her all too soon and she rested her head again the side of the bed.

"How's..."

Allen and Sonya had entered the small room to see how Van was doing when they came across the almost peaceful seen. Allen shook his head and went to her side.

"We should bring her to lay down in Paige's room. She was really upset early. I guess it just took it's toll." Sonya said. Allen nodded in agreement and carried his sleeping friend out of the room.

Van groaned as he attempted to open his eyes. He felt slightly odd and tingly for some unknown reason. Remembering what happened he pushed his body to sit up. He found that it wasn't the most easiest task and his head began to pound with pressure.

"Don't move Van, you'll only make it feel worse. Slow down some. You're ok now."

The voice echoed through his head like a thunderstorm even though it was a whisper. Who was with him now? It wasn't Hitomi's voice, he knew that for a fact. This voice was different but, female.

"Who..."

"It's Paige. Don't move just yet. You have to lie still for a little bit. Take it one step at a time or you'll really have a headache." She said.

"Too late." He muttered while trying to open his eyes.

"Welcome to the land of the living. Besides the headache, how do you feel? Any pain that we should know about?" She asked.

"No but, I feel like I've been struck by lightening. My entire body is..."

"Tingling? I know. Mine was doing that for about fifteen minutes after I shocked you." She replied.

"You what?"

"Don't worry a little electrocution never hurt anybody and it gave us some time." She said.

"Where's Hitomi? Is she ok?" He asked, trying to sit yet again.

"Down boy. She's asleep in my room. She was really worried about you though. If she was still awake, she would have been here with you. Allen carried her away so she could get a better sleep. She got really worked up." Paige said.

"She was worried?"

"Duh, what do you think. She really cares about you and you obviously care about her so, why don't you just tell her?" She asked.

"It's too late for that."

"What? Are you insane? It's never too late to tell someone how you feel about them." She stated.

"Unless she's with someone."

"Who? Hitomi? Is there someone I don't know about in her life?" She asked.

"I've seen the way she acts with Kai." He muttered.

"Oh! Kai? Nope, you've got that all wrong. Kai's my boyfriend. He and Hitomi are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less." Paige stated.

"You don't mind that he flirts with women like that?" He asked, bewildered.

"That's not really flirting. He's just a big joker. I'm sure you're wondering about the thong thing. Well it was a birthday prank. Kai wanted to buy Hitomi some perfume. Unfortunately, that ugly thing came with it. The faces she made after that were just priceless. We all tease her about it to this day. There's nothing behind it but that. Just talk to her already."

"You don't get it. Something happened that caused me to not speak with her in six years. She's mad now and I can't explain what happened. She wouldn't understand." He said.

"Hitomi's a pretty understandable person Van. Whatever it is that you have locked up in that mind of yours is probably just nothing. Maybe you don't understand it yourself and because you don't you assume she won't."

Van blinked at her use of words. It utterly confused him and his head hurt too much to try to understand it.

"Look Van, as hard as it may seem to talk to her. If you don't solve your problems you could be missing out on something bigger. Even if she doesn't understand, at least you tried. Then you won't have what if's and doubts. You'll know and she'll know. At least give it a shot. I know you're a good person and I know that you love her. I can see it in your eyes. Aside from the pain that is." She said with a grin.

"What if she hates me more? What then?"

"Like I said. At least you'll know. Let's get you something for that headache."

"Yes, please. My head feels like it's going to explode." He muttered.

"Relax. We've got everything under control for the time being. It's late so, just rest. Electrician's orders." She grinned.

"Not funny."

"That seems to be everybody's favorite sentence tonight. So sue me for trying to bring on some cheer. Sheesh." She muttered.

"Sorry but, it's still not funny."

"Oh! Stop it! You have no sense of humor. Evil little man." She teased, drawing a smile from him.

"See, I knew I'd make you smile. Stop trying to hide it! I'm going to get Hitomi to beat you." She stated as she left the room. Van shook his head and closed his eyes in attempts to make the pain go away. Paige was just to loud.

Sleep wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Paige had explained that it was really late at night and that it was best to sleep. He couldn't sleep after his conversation with her. He had to talk to Hitomi before it was too late. He wanted her to know the truth.

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TBC...



AN: Sorry if this seems short. I'm getting to the big issue now. Some fluffiness should come in the next chapter. Then I have to get to the point. I haven't gotten many reviews but, I'm going to keep writing this anyway because I can't stand unfinished things. Please review? I'd like to know what u think. Thank you very much to those of u who have reviewed. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Bye for now!